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Maturation feeding and reproductive development in adult pine weevil, Hylobius abietis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

D. Wainhouse ,
R. Boswell  and
R. Ashburner
D. Wainhouse*
Affiliation:
Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, GU10 4LH,Surrey, UK
R. Boswell
Affiliation:
Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, GU10 4LH,Surrey, UK
R. Ashburner
Affiliation:
Forest Research, Alice Holt Lodge, Wrecclesham, Farnham, GU10 4LH,Surrey, UK
*
*Fax: 01420 23653 E-mail: david.wainhouse@forestry.gsi.gov.uk
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Abstract

Maturation feeding on conifer bark by newly emerged Hylobius abietis(Linnaeus) is essential for reproductive development. When feeding occurs on young conifer transplants, this weevil causes significant economic damage. Between emergence and oviposition however, weevils feed on bark from different sources but of unknown nutritional ‘quality’. The factors influencing the rate of feeding by males and females and female reproductive development were determined in laboratory bioassays using two contrasting food sources – the bark on different species of seedling conifer and on logs of mature trees. The nutritional ‘quality’ of bark was characterized by the concentration of nitrogen, total sugars, total polyphenols and resin. Regression models were used to show that overall, the rate of feeding on the bark of both seedlings and logs increased with weevil size and was negatively related to nitrogen concentration. The nitrogen concentration in seedling bark (mean 1.1%) was about three times higher than that of logs (mean 0.4%). The rate of reproductive development increased with nitrogen intake during feeding and the preoviposition period for weevils feeding on seedlings and logs was ~ 13 days and 46 days, respectively. Analysis of weevil mortality and of the weight gain of surviving weevils suggests that a nitrogen content of around 0.3% may be limiting for H. abietis. The possibility that nutritionally adequate food resources may be limiting for H. abietis is briefly discussed.

Type
Research Article
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 94 , Issue 1 , February 2004 , pp. 81 - 87
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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