Distribution and abundance of three species of Sitona (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in grassland in England

Abstract

SummaryThe distribution and abundance of weevils of the genus Sitona was assessed at 16 sites in England. The sites were chosen to cover a wide range of geographical and agricultural regions. Adult weevils were sampled on four occasions, from May to August 1993. Numbers of adults, larvae and pupae were determined for each site on four occasions from June to September 1994. Numbers of larvae declined throughout the year in which they were sampled and pupae were most numerous in July. The population density of adults increased through the sampling period in both years. Sites close to pulse crops had the largest population levels of weevils, with Sitona lineatus L. the dominant species. No differences in the population levels of Sitona hispidulus (F.) or S. flauescens (Marsh.) were detected. Evidently populations of the latter two species are fairly constant in grassland and most of the variation in the population densities of these three species found in English grassland can be attributed to the migratory behaviour of S. lineatus and the proximity of pulse crops.