Feeding and Oviposition Preferences of Pales Weevil Among Three Coniferous Hosts in Pennsylvania, U.S.A. : Insects Affecting Reforestation. Biology and Damage

1989

1 Abb., 9 Tab., 18 Lit. Ang.

Unselbständiges Werk

9091

200069372

Pales weevil, Hylobius pales (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a common pest in Christmas tree plantations in Pennsylvania. Tests were conducted in the laboratory, using freshly-cut host material, to determine whether adult weevils exhibit feeding or oviposition preference among Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), eastern white pine (P. strobus L.), and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco). Preliminary tests demonstrated that, within a host species, feeding preferences did not exist among foliated branches of the five provenances of Scots pine, three provenances of eastern white pine, or three provenances of Douglas-fir tested. Neither was any discrimination observed when pairs of host species were presented simultaneously, or when all three species were exposed together. Adults at least 60 days old, which had completed their preovipositon and maturation feeding period, were presented with bole segments as oviposition substrates. When host material was presented from two species of trees at a time, Scots pine was preferred over both Douglas-fir and eastern white pine; Douglas-fir was preferred over eastern white pine. If material for all three trees was presented simultaneously, no discrimination was evident.