Does larval diet prior to Hass avocado seed consumption and seed size impact the fitness of adult <i>Heilipus lauri</i> (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)?

ABSTRACT: Heilipus lauri Boheman (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a specialist avocado seed feeder and a pest of economic importance in native (México) and invaded (Colombia) regions. Despite being a well-recognized pest of avocados, relatively little is known about factors affecting the developmental biology of weevil larvae infesting fruit. Laboratory studies investigated the effects of 4 pre-seed diets, 0, 1, and 3 d of feeding on avocado pulp, and consumption of conspecific first instar larvae on adult weevil fitness (ie size). Following these pre-seed diets, larvae were artificially inoculated into pre-weighed Hass avocado seeds. The effects of pre-seed diet and the size (ie weight) of inoculated seeds were analyzed for effects on the estimated mean amount of avocado seed consumed by larva

SUBMITTER: Hoddle MS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12452272 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature