Distribution and Movement of Adult Diaprepes Abbreviatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in a Florida Citrus Grove

Abstract

Over 10 weeks, 765 adult, feral Díaprepes abbreviatus were captured from 750 young citrus trees by dislodging them into inverted umbrellas. Newly captured weevils were distributed evenly among plots throughout the experimental site. Five hundred eighty of these weevils were marked and released; 146 were recovered. Recaptured (marked) weevils tended to stay close to the release point. Because recaptured weevils were not homogenously distributed, a mark-release method for a population estimation was untenable. Weevils were recaptured at distances up to 120 m from the release point, the farthest distance checked. There were no differences between males and females in the numbers and distances moved. Marked females were recovered at the experimental site over a longer time period than marked males. Weevils were recaptured within 6 weeks of marking, but none after 6 weeks from first capture. Over the 10 week experimental period, Malaise and Tedders traps captured 0 and 2 weevils, respectively, compared to the 765 weevils captured with the beat method. Average adults per tree ranged from 0.016 to 0.376 per week with an overall average of 0.172 ± 0.140, enough adult weevils to thoroughly infest all trees with larvae.