TY  - JOUR
T1  - Occurrence and Seasonal Variation of <I>Heteroligus meles</I> Billb (Coleoptera: Dynastidae) in Upper Niger Delta, Nigeria
AU - Okiemute, Tobih Francis 
JO  - Environmental Research Journal
VL  - 5
IS  - 3
SP  - 136
EP  - 139
PY  - 2011
DA  - 2001/08/19
SN  - 1994-5396
DO  - erj.2011.136.139
UR  - https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?doi=erj.2011.136.139
KW  - Occurrence
KW  -yam beetle
KW  -population
KW  -Niger delta
KW  -variation
KW  -coefficient
AB  - Studies conducted in 2004/2005 in the rainforest ecological zone of Anwai-Asaba in the Upper Niger delta, Nigeria, examined the occurrence and seasonal variation in the population of yam tuber beetles (<I>Heteroligus</I> sp.). The beetle population started building up in May with the peak occurrence as determined by the light traps occurring in July-August. The population trend is climate dependent and the peak was unimodal. Correlation analysis was negative for temperature (b = &#150;0.662) while it was positively correlated with rainfall (b = 0.552) and relative humidity (b = 0.543). Based on the coefficient of determination (R<SUP>2</SUP>), beetle occurrence can be predicted on weather elements studied to about 52% for rainfall, 29% relative humidity and 44% for temperature. The best predictive tools for monitoring the commencement of occurrence of the yam beetle are the three major weather parameters, namely temperature, relative humidity and rainfall but the later was more critical according to this study.
ER  -