ARS | Publication request: SOME CHEMICAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL COMPARISONS OF LABORATORY-REARED AND FIELD-COLLECTED ADULT DIAPREPES ROOT WEEVIL

Submitted to: Diaprepes Task Force Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 25, 2005
Publication Date: May 12, 2005
Citation: Hall, D.G., Alessandro, R.T. 2005. Some chemical and morphological comparisons of laboratory-reared and field-collected adult diaprepes root weevil. Diaprepes Task Force Abstracts. Immokalee, FL. May 12, 2005.

Technical Abstract: Chemical and morphological comparisons showed differences between laboratory-reared and field-collected adult Diaprepes root weevils and between field-collected weevils from different host plants in different geographical areas in Florida. Lab-reared weevils were significantly larger in body size and displayed different chromatographic profiles and spectra of metabolites and lipids. Weevils field-collected from an ornamental nursery in Homestead were generally smaller than weevils field-collected from citrus in the Fort Pierce area. Chemical and morphological differences were attributed to differences during larval development in food-source nutrients, environmental conditions, and varying soil/media factors. Researchers using laboratory-reared weevils to make research conclusions for populations of wild weevils should keep such differences in mind. Adult body size may be a useful indicator of the overall suitability of a food source or host plant used by larvae.