Department of Biological Sciences, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, P. M. B. 5080 Nkpolu, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
1 Department of Biology, Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Laboratory studies was carried out between the months of May and July 2001 on the oviposition of R. phoenids. Results showed that the adults (males and females) used the rosbum to make holes (l-7 mm deep and 1–14 mm diameter), but only the females deposited an egg into a hole. The relationship between the diameter depth of these holes showed good negative correlation (r = -0.81 - 0.99). The incubation period of the eggs was 3–4 days at temperature (26–30°C) and relative humidity (76–88%). The daily oviposition rate ranged between 3–50 eggs during the oviposition period of 5–20 days; least oviposition (0.9±0.61) occurred during the first week after pre-oviposition period of 1–5 days. Maximum oviposition (44.9±10.4) occurred on the 9-13th days of the second week followed by (l6.63±5.06) on the third and (10.5±1.07) on the fourth weeks respectively. The oviposition pattern was generally irregular, while the percentage egg-hatchability was 60.46.
