Structural comparison of the rostra of two species of weevils coexisting on Ailanthus altissima: the response to ecological demands of egg deposition.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Elongated rostra play an important role in the egg-laying of weevils, and its emergence plays a key role in the adaptive radiation of weevils. Eucryptorrhynchus scrobiculatus Motschulsky and E. brandti Harold co-occur on the same only host Ailanthus altissima, while their oviposition sites are different. In order to understand the adaptation between the rostra of the two weevils and their oviposition sites, the structural differentiation of the rostra in E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti was compared.

Results

The present study reveals that: (1) The rostra length of E. scrobiculatus and E. brandti was found to be correlated with body size, larger weevils have a correspondingly longer rostrum. The increase of rostra length may be a byproduct of larger weevils. (2) The

SUBMITTER: Zhang G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8161989 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature