PERFORMANCE AND PREFERENCE OF HYLOBIUS RADIUS BUCHANAN, AND H. PALES (HERBST) (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) ON VARIOUS PINUS SPECIES

Abstract

AbstractThe weevils Hylobius radicis Buchanan and Hylobius pales (Herbst) survived to adulthood more frequently, developed more rapidly, and weighed more as adults when reared on diet containing ground phloem from Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris L., or red pine, Pinus resinosa Aiton, than from jack pine, Pinus banksiana Lamb., or eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L. In feeding tests, both weevils preferred Scots pine, although jack pine was preferred over red and white pine. When reared on diets containing phloem from red pines which had received various amounts of nitrogenous fertilizer, H. radicis and H. pales performed significantly better at elevated concentrations of nitrogen. Hylobius radicis adults exhibited a feeding preference for twigs from red pines containing elevated nitrogen concentrations.