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Why are seed cones of Swiss stone pine ( Pinus cembra ) not attacked by the specialized pine cone weevil, Pissodes validirostris ? A case of host selection vs. host suitability
Author(s) -
Dormont L.,
Roques A.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
entomologia experimentalis et applicata
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.765
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1570-7458
pISSN - 0013-8703
DOI - 10.1046/j.1570-7458.2001.00813.x
Subject(s) - weevil , biology , curculionidae , conifer cone , host (biology) , olfactometer , pinus <genus> , botany , woody plant , larva , ecology
The pine cone weevil, Pissodes validirostris Gyll. (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), attacks seed cones of most Eurasian pine species, except these of Swiss stone pine ( Pinus cembra L.). Behavioural responses of adult weevils to cone volatile emissions of Swiss stone pine and to those of a common host, mountain pine ( Pinus uncinata Ram.), were compared in an olfactometer. Weevils were significantly attracted by the volatile blend emitted by mountain pine, but Swiss stone pine volatiles elicited an inverse response, with most weevils moving in the opposite direction to the odour source. However, the majority of second instar weevil larvae that were extracted from mountain pine cones and transferred into Swiss stone pine cones were capable of developing to the adult stage. This suggests that Swiss stone pine cones do not contain strong feeding deterrents that could prevent larval development. The possible factors involved in the absence of colonization of Swiss stone pine cones by cone weevils are discussed.