Migration of larvae of the large Pine Weevil, Hylobius abietis L. (Col., Curculionidae): Possible predation a lesser risk than death by starvation?

The ability of Hylobius abietis larvae to migrate through soil was investigated and experiments to establish whether migrating larvae were vulnerable to predation by carabid beetles, was conducted. The five week long investigation used three species of carabid. In the presence of one species, Pterostichus madidus , a significantly smaller number of successful migrations occurred than in the controls and other carabid treatments. This indicated that P. madidus consumed the larvae as they migrated through the soil, a conclusion supported by survival in the originally ‘infested’ piece of pine being similar for all the treatments in the procedure. The results of the investigation also indicated that migration increased overall larval survival. The implications of these findings for pest management strategies are discussed.