Oviposition preference and offspring performance in Mechoris ursulus Roelofs (Coleoptera: Attelabidae)

Abstract

Oak nut weevil (Mechoris ursulus Roelofs) females lay eggs in acorns and cut off the branch of oviposited acorns. We investigated the relationship between oviposition preference and offspring performance (growth and survival). M. ursulus appeared to estimate the size of an acorn by walking around it before and after oviposition. When we offered paired acorns of different sizes, females showed strong preference for larger acorns. In the field, egg-bearing acorns were larger than egg-free acorns in cut branches. A parallel series of experiments was conducted to assess the influence of acorn size on offspring performance. Larvae and newly emerged adults from larger acorns were heavier than those from smaller acorns. However, acorn size did not affect the survivorship of larvae. We also tested if M. ursulus avoided oviposited acorns, but there was no evidence that M. ursulus could assess the presence of eggs in acorns.