Hybridization between Tribolium freemani HINTON and Tribolium castaneum (HERBST), and Some Preliminary Studies on the Biology of Tribolium, freemani (Coleoptera : Tenebrionidae)

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Abstract
Crosses between T. freemani, recently rediscovered from imported corn in Japan, and T. castaneum produced many infertile F1 hybrids. Weights of hybrid pupae were intermediate between those of parents, and the weight ratio between the sexes differed in the 2 parental crosses. Optimum conditions for development of T. freemani were similar to those of T. castaneum, but the developmental period was slightly longer. The ease with which T. freemani was reared on wheat-feed medium suggests that it could become a pest of stored products. The absence of records of this species suggests that it is of negligible economic importance.