Characterization of larval instars of artemisia weevil, Adosomus sp.

The artemisia weevil, Adosomus sp., has become an important wormwood (Artemisia ordosoca and A. sphaerocephala) pest in recent years in Ningxia Province, China. The number of larval instars should be determined before further studies on its life history, biology and integrate management of pest (IMP). In this study, we measured the length and width of head capsule, based on frequency histograms and Dyar's law, from which we concluded that the larvae of Adosomus sp. have four instars. Of the two variables measured, the width of head capsule provided the best division of instars. The average width of head capsule of the 1st instar larvae was 1.348±0.152 mm, the 2nd 2.109±0.199 mm, the 3rd 3.563±0.492 mm and the 4th 5.974±0.581 mm.