The bionomics of an invasive species Sitona lepidus during its establishment in New Zealand

The egg, larval, pupal and adult abundance of the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was monitored at three sites for the first ten years following the discovery of this exotic pest in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The species went through an initial boom an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bulletin of entomological research 2010-06, Vol.100 (3), p.339-346
Main Authors: Gerard, P.J., Goldson, S.L., Hardwick, S., Addison, P.J., Willoughby, B.E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal populations
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
boom and bust
Coleoptera
Curculionidae
developmental stages
Ecology
Entomology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
geographical distribution
geographical variation
habitats
insect ecology
insect pests
insect surveys
Insects
invasive pest
invasive species
Larva
measurement
Medicago - parasitology
New Zealand
Nonnative species
overwintering
pastures
periodicity
Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection
plant pests
Population Density
Population Dynamics
population size
progeny
Protozoa. Invertebrates
Rain
Records, symptoms, damages, economic importance, population surveys
seasonal variation
Seasons
Sitona lepidus
Trifolium repens
Weevils - physiology
white clover
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Summary:The egg, larval, pupal and adult abundance of the clover root weevil Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) was monitored at three sites for the first ten years following the discovery of this exotic pest in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The species went through an initial boom and bust cycle at two sites, with populations reaching up to 1800 larvae m−2. Thereafter, winter larval populations were relatively stable, ranging between 450–750 m−2. Unlike in the Northern Hemisphere, S. lepidus was found to have two generations a year in the Waikato region of New Zealand. Pasture white clover content at the time of peak adult numbers was positively related to the subsequent peak larval populations for each generation. The factors contributing to the emergence of S. lepidus as one of the most important pasture pests in New Zealand are discussed.
ISSN:0007-4853
1475-2670
DOI:10.1017/S0007485309990411