A "t'" was calculated according to a formula by Cochran and
Cox (1957). The prime indicates that the criterion is not
distributed as the Student's "t."
 The few data obtained from the sweet potato weevil are related
to the total of eggs laid in the laboratory, the duration of oviposi-
tion and the total of days lived in the laboratory.


CONCLUSIONS
1. The total number of eggs laid by Diaprepes on the wild host
 (mother-of-cocoa) does not differ significantly from the
 number laid on citrus, indicating that the two hosts are about
 equally suitable to the insect which, thus, can shift from one
 to the other without any significant change in the size of its
 populations. These are significantly enhanced coming from
 the wild to the cultivated host.


2. Citrus is therefore an excellent host species for Diaprepes. In
 fact, in Florida when the insect became established, it never
 attacked sugarcane, but became a serious pest of citrus. In
 agroecosystems of Puerto Rico this species may serve as a
 breeding site, maintaining the Diaprepes population at a high
 level. Pigeon peas, papaya and vegetables contribute
 presumably much less to the abundance of that insect.
3. Pigeon pea proved to be more suitable than the wild host,
 although not as good as citrus. It topped mother-of-cocoa for
 all the criteria considered (Table 6). It does not withstand well
 the attack of Diaprepes, and especially young plants may be
 severely damaged. The plant is very prone to develop fungi
 which will damage the eggs of the insect at an early stage.
4. Papaya is unquestionably a poor host and may contribute only
 little to the population of the insect. That host was worst for
 all the criteria considered.


TABLE 1. Biological criteria (fecundity, oviposition, incubation, hatching success) related to Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) reared
and maintained on orange leaves (Citrus sinensis [Osbeck]). Temperature 75"F (23.8*C), R.H. 80%.


PCAlla PCAIIc PCA1I1c
(11 Oct-)( 3 Nov.-)( 7 Dee )(
(29 Nov.)( 3 Dec. )(23 Feb. )(
( 1982 )( 1982 )( 1982 )(


1. Total eggs laid in
 laboratory
2. Duration of oviposition
 (days)
3. Average daily oviposi-
 tion
4. Average duration of in-
 cubation
5. Number of live births
6. Percent hatch
7. Number days lived in
 laboratory


PCIId PCAIlid PCAlle PCA!lf
3 Nov.-)(7 Dec 82-)(7 Dec.-)(3 Nov.-)
6 Dec. )(2t, Jan. )(31 Jan.)(15 Mar.)
1982 )( 1983 )( 1983 )( 1983 )


144 230 225 655 274 1544


 26 13 20 12

10.26 11.07 11.50 18.75

11.20 15.00 24.00 22.60

901 43 72 103
55.75 29.86 31.30 42.70
41 83 78 31


 34 10 133

19.26 27.40 10.80

24.60 24.60 18.70

73 43 645
11.14 15.60 11.70
51 53 34


TABLE 2. Biological criteria (fecundity, oviposition, incubation, hatching success) related to Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) reared
and maintained on papaya (Caica papaya [L.]). Temperature 75"F (23.8C), R.H. 80%.


(P-P-A to)
(P-P-G )
( July 2,)
( 1982 )


(P-P-A to E)
(August 2. )
( 1982 )


(
(
(


P-P-A lib )
Oct 11 to)
Oct 28, )
 1982 )


1. Total eggs laid in la-
 boratory
2. Duration of oviposition (days)
3. Average daily oviposition
4. Average duration of incuba-
 tion
5. Number of live births
(. Percent hatch
7. Number days lived in la labo-
 ratory


VOL. XX-PROCEEDINGS of the CARIBBEAN FOOD CROPS SOCIETY


P-P-A to)
P-P-G )
(May 14,)
( 1982 )


u59


25.5

158
25.9


779


29.3

127
lo.30


467


17.2

57
12.20


369

 10

 37
 16.1

229
62.05


63