SEXUAL INDEX OF THE SUGAR BEET WEEVIL (Bothynoderes punctiventris Germ. 1824) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Sa？etak The sugar beet weevil (Bothynoderes punctiventris Germar 1824; Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is the most important sugar beet pest from sugar beet germination and emergence till forming first true leaves. The aim of this study was to establish sexual index of the overwintering sugar beet weevil on two locations in eastern Croatia (Tovarnik and Dalj). The overwintering adult weevils were collected with aggregation baits, from 29th March to 20th April 2017. According to the collected specimens, dynamics of adult emergence was established, sex was determined, and the sexual index was calculated. The results showed a larger number of pests collected in Tovarnik compared to Dalj. In time of sugar beet weevil emergence (the last decade of March), the number of males was higher than the number of females. However, two to three weeks later the ratio between males and females was equalized, and after the population was dominated by females. Early female dominance in spring could indicate increased number of pests in the future population