Foraging resources of boll weevils (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Abstract

Pollen analyses were used to determine alternative foraging resources of spring and early season adult boll weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, in 1995 at three Texas locations: Uvalde, Crockett, and Munday. Overall, 82% of the boll weevils (n = 486) contained pollen, and over 8,900 pollen grains were encountered. Pollen representing 58 families, 97 genera, and 46 species were identified in the samples. Salicaceae (28%), Fabaceae (13%), and Poaceae (8%) pollen grains represented the highest percentage of pollen types: whereas, Poaceae (45%), Asteraceae (43%), and Fabaceae (34%) pollen grains were found in the greatest number of samples. Fabaceae had more pollen taxa followed by Asteraceae. Uvalde samples had the highest species diversity and species richness. Although there were no significant differences in species diversity, richness, and evenness among the three sites, there was a significant reduction in species diversity in Munday samples from June to July. Our research shows that boll weevils at three Texas locations foraged on a variety of pollen. Identified pollen spectra reflected the habitat from where the boll weevils were captured.