Environmental Entomology (1984) 13, 1361-1365

Philip A. Stansly and James R. Cate (1984)
Discrimination by ovipositing boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) against previously infested Hampea (Malvaceae) flower buds
Environmental Entomology 13 (5), 1361-1365
Abstract: The low occurrence of multiple oviposition punctures in flower buds of Hampea nutricia indicated an avoidance of already infested buds by female boll weevils. This behavior was confirmed by observations which showed that individual weevils inspected buds before oviposition and rejected them if a puncture plugged with frass was encountered. Free-choice tests showed that females preferred uninfested buds for oviposition over either infested buds or buds implanted with a frass plug taken from an infested bud. Forcing weevils to oviposit in infested buds greatly decreased egg production.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Database assignments for author(s): Philip A. Stansly

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Anthonomus grandis		Mexico