Evidence of density-dependent oviposition behaviour byListronotus bonariensis(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Canterbury pasture

Abstract

AbstractArgentine stem weevil (Listronotus bonariensis) (Kuschel) is a pasture pest ofLoliumspp. in New Zealand and is the target of a classical biological control programme using the parasitoidMicroctonus hyperodaeLoan. However, laboratory experiments have indicated a strong density-dependent egg laying response which may have important implications for the biological control effort. Two field experiments were conducted using a manipulated range of weevil densities within 2.0–2.4 m–2field enclosures and oviposition activity measured by weekly sampling of grass tillers within the enclosures. In both experiments, density had no effect on general oviposition behaviour although the percentage of tillers found to be infested with eggs increased significantly at higher densities. In experiment 1,L. bonariensisexhibited strong density-dependent oviposition with a significant decline in eggs/tiller/female with increasing adult density. An initial population of fiveL. bonariensism−2oviposited 32 times more eggs/tiller/female than 200L. bonariensism−2. By comparison, density-dependent oviposition was absent in experiment 2 with eggs/tiller/female comparable for all densities. The dramatic difference between the two experiments in the expression of density-dependent oviposition was attributed to prevailing spring temperatures during the sampling interval, which in the second experiment were much cooler and delayed the onset of egg laying. It is probable that in experiment 2, oviposition was not regulated by density-dependent cues but limited by temperature and age related mortality in the adult population. The mechanism for density-dependent oviposition, its occurrence in the field and impact on the effectiveness of the parasitoidM. hyperodaeare discussed.