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Feeding on roots in the humus layer by adult pine weevil, Hylobius abietis
Author(s) -
Wallertz Kristina,
Nordlander Göran,
Örlander Göran
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
agricultural and forest entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.755
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1461-9563
pISSN - 1461-9555
DOI - 10.1111/j.1461-9563.2006.00306.x
Subject(s) - bark (sound) , humus , weevil , biology , hectare , scots pine , botany , beech , horticulture , fructification , agronomy , pinus <genus> , soil water , ecology , agriculture
1 The consumption by adult pine weevil, Hylobius abietis , of the bark of roots present in the humus layer was assessed in a field study conducted in southern Sweden during two years (1998 and 2002). The study sites were divided into two areas: (i) a shelterwood where 80–100 mature Scots pine trees per hectare remained after cutting and (ii) a clearcut where no trees were left. 2 On average, 3741 m 2 per hectare of root bark was present in the humus layer, of which 135 m 2 was not coniferous but comprised species such as bilberry and broadleaved trees. 3 The mean area debarked by pine weevils was 2.9 m 2 per hectare; 2.6 m 2 of conifer roots and 0.3 m 2 of bilberry roots. Roots of broadleaved trees were almost never consumed. No clear preferences for roots of a specific level of vitality were observed. 4 No consistent difference between the shelterwood and clearcut was found, either in the amount of root bark area available or in the extent of root feeding by pine weevil. 5 A weak negative correlation between debarked areas on roots and seedlings was found, indicating that root feeding may have reduced damage to seedlings. 6 It is concluded that conifer roots in the humus layer constitute a major food source for the pine weevil and can be utilized for a considerable period in both clearcuts and shelterwoods.