H.A.BORAEI
Dept. of Economic Entomology
Kafr El-Sheikh, Fac. Agric., Tanta Univ. , Kafr El-Sheikh, Egypt

ABSTRACT

The development of ovaries and testes of the Egyptian alfalfa weevil Hypera brunneipennis Boh. accompanied aging of the weevils. The longest ovaries (5.22 mm) and the largest testes (0.99 mm2) were detected in winter. However, gonads of parasitized weevils by Microctonus sp. which dissected in winter were still not significantly different from those aestivating weevils of summer. Histological studies revealed that germarium of reactivated winter females contained more developmental stages of oocytes and males contained more free spermatozoa and more dividing cells in comparison to aestivating ones.

Key Words: Egyptian alfalfa weevil, Sexual maturation, Aestivation, Microctonus sp.