PHENOLOGY AND ECOLOGY OF CIENFUEGOSIA-INTERMEDIA FRYXELL (MALVACEAE) AND EVALUATION AS A HOST PLANT OF THE BOLL-WEEVIL, ANTHONOMUS-GRANDIS BOHEMAN

The phenology and ecology of Cienfuegosia intermedia Fryxell (Malvaceae) was investigated in north-central Mexico, and the plant was evaluated as a host plant of the boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Cienfuegosia intermedia was found in an arid, scrub habitat above 950 m elevation in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. This species is a procumbent herbaceous perennial which rapidly flowers and fruits after sporadic seasonal rains. The large rootstock of C. intermedia is resistant to drought, burning and grazing, which allows the plant to survive in the heavily grazed and disturbed habitat where it is found. Field and laboratory results strongly suggest that C. intermedia is not a host plant for the boll weevil. No boll weevils were found associated with C. intermedia in the field over a 2-year period. Adult females rarely oviposited in C. intermedia buds in the laboratory, and boll weevil immatures, manually implanted as eggs in buds, did not reach imago.