Effect of supplementary nutrition on adult lifetime of acorn weevils (Curculio haroldi)

By feeding adult weevils with different kinds of nutrition,i.e.Quercus serrata Murray young fruits,Q.serrata young branches,water,10% sucrose water,and nothing as control,the effect of supplementary nutrition on adult lifetime of acorn weevils(Curculio haroldi Faust)was studied in net-cages.In addition,it was also investigated whether body size and sex as potential factors would influence weevil lifetime.The results showed that the lifetime of acorn weevils was significantly affected when added different kinds of nutrition.The lifetime of adult weevils feeding 10% sucrose water had 3-4 times as long as they fed any other nutrition.The weevil size based on body length significantly affected their lifetime,and the lifetime of female weevils was also slightly longer than that of male weevils though no significant difference was found between sexes.In conclusion,nutrition quality and weevil size played critical roles in the lifetime of this weevil species,which may be important for its reproductive success and subsequent damage to its host plants.