Effects of Food Plants and Duration of Hibernal Quiescence on Reproductive Capacity of Pea Leaf Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

The effects of duration of the hibernal quiescent period, migrational state, food plant (pea, lentil, or alfalfa), and absence of food on fecundity and fertility of pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus (L.), were compared in the laboratory. Two rearing techniques were used to determine preovipositional and ovipositional periods, number of eggs laid, and rate of egg laying for S. lineatus field-collected monthly over several seasons. The fecundity of S. lineatus was significantly affected by the food provided, with weevils fed pea foliage having the highest fecundity. The lowest level of oviposition was observed for weevils provided lentil foliage or starved. The spring migrational state of S. lineatus and number of months spent in hibernal quiescence had a significant effect on oviposition.