Prolonged diapause and seed predation by the acorn weevil, Curculio robustus, in relation to masting of the deciduous oak Quercus acutissima

Many researchers have studied the relationship between masting by trees and seed predation by insects. Most of these studies have been plant centered, with little focus on the insect perspective. To estimate the effect of mast seeding on insect seed predators, the life-history traits of these insects must also be considered because some seed insects can survive lean years by prolonged diapause. In this study, I examined larval infestation of acorns and life-history traits of the acorn weevil, Curculio robustus (Roelofs) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in relation to acorn production of the deciduous oak Quercus acutissima Carruthers (Fagaceae) in a coppice stand in central Japan in 2004-2009. Curculio robustus females oviposit into Q.acutissima acorns, inside which the larvae develop. Mature larvae leave acorns and burrow into the soil, where they overwinter. Although germination did occur in acorns infested by weevil larvae, the percentage of germination was lower in acorns damaged by many larvae. Acorn production in Q.acutissima varied considerably among years. Both the number of C.robustus larvae infesting acorns and the percentage of acorns infested were affected by the amount of acorns produced by Q.acutissima, and two successive lean years appeared to have a considerable impact on C.robustus population size. Consequently, only a small fraction of the acorns produced were lost to predation in a mast year after two successive lean years. However, C.robustus could survive the two successive lean years because of prolonged larval diapause, probably leading to a marked decrease in population size. These findings suggest that masting in Q.acutissima succeeds as a predator satiation strategy in response to acorn damage by C.robustus, and that C.robustus has developed prolonged diapause as a counter-adaptation.