Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>)
The fig weevil <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) is an invasive fig tree pest recently introduced in southern Europe. Reported for the first time in France in 1997 as <i>A. cribratus</i>, and then in Italy in 2005 as <i>...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-02-01
|
| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/223 |
| _version_ | 1797611095741956096 |
|---|---|
| author | Camilla Tani Barbara Conti Stefano Bedini |
| author_facet | Camilla Tani Barbara Conti Stefano Bedini |
| author_sort | Camilla Tani |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The fig weevil <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) is an invasive fig tree pest recently introduced in southern Europe. Reported for the first time in France in 1997 as <i>A. cribratus</i>, and then in Italy in 2005 as <i>A.</i> sp. cf. <i>foveatus</i>, <i>A. taiwanensis</i> is currently threatening fig nurseries, orchards, and wild plants. To date, no control methods have proven to be effective against <i>A. taiwanensis</i>. Although some attempts have been made to describe the insect’s biology and behavior, such information is limited to that obtained from adult samples collected in the field. In particular, because of their xylophagous behavior, scarce information is available on the larval stages of the species. The aim of this study, therefore, was to fill these information gaps on the insect biology and behavior by setting up a laboratory protocol suitable for the rearing of <i>A. taiwanensis</i>. Using the developed rearing protocol, we assessed the main fitness parameters of the species including oviposition rate, egg hatchability, embryonic, larval and pupal duration and development, immature survival, pupation behavior, pupal weight, emergence, sex ratio and adult morphological parameters. The proposed rearing procedure allowed us to obtain new information on the main features of the insect’s biology that may be useful for setting up strategies for its control. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:23:00Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-63915ff4f6c1485a82cb513747cb135f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:23:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-63915ff4f6c1485a82cb513747cb135f2023-11-17T11:45:37ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-02-0114322310.3390/insects14030223Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>)Camilla Tani0Barbara Conti1Stefano Bedini2Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Pisa, 80 Via del Borghetto, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Pisa, 80 Via del Borghetto, 56124 Pisa, ItalyDepartment of Agriculture, Food and Environment University of Pisa, 80 Via del Borghetto, 56124 Pisa, ItalyThe fig weevil <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) is an invasive fig tree pest recently introduced in southern Europe. Reported for the first time in France in 1997 as <i>A. cribratus</i>, and then in Italy in 2005 as <i>A.</i> sp. cf. <i>foveatus</i>, <i>A. taiwanensis</i> is currently threatening fig nurseries, orchards, and wild plants. To date, no control methods have proven to be effective against <i>A. taiwanensis</i>. Although some attempts have been made to describe the insect’s biology and behavior, such information is limited to that obtained from adult samples collected in the field. In particular, because of their xylophagous behavior, scarce information is available on the larval stages of the species. The aim of this study, therefore, was to fill these information gaps on the insect biology and behavior by setting up a laboratory protocol suitable for the rearing of <i>A. taiwanensis</i>. Using the developed rearing protocol, we assessed the main fitness parameters of the species including oviposition rate, egg hatchability, embryonic, larval and pupal duration and development, immature survival, pupation behavior, pupal weight, emergence, sex ratio and adult morphological parameters. The proposed rearing procedure allowed us to obtain new information on the main features of the insect’s biology that may be useful for setting up strategies for its control.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/223fig weevilartificial dietbiological parametersinvasive pest |
| spellingShingle | Camilla Tani Barbara Conti Stefano Bedini Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) Insects fig weevil artificial diet biological parameters invasive pest |
| title | Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) |
| title_full | Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) |
| title_fullStr | Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) |
| title_short | Biological Insights on the Invasive Fig Pest <i>Aclees taiwanensis</i> Kȏno, 1933 (Coleoptera: <i>Curculionidae</i>) |
| title_sort | biological insights on the invasive fig pest i aclees taiwanensis i kono 1933 coleoptera i curculionidae i |
| topic | fig weevil artificial diet biological parameters invasive pest |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/223 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT camillatani biologicalinsightsontheinvasivefigpestiacleestaiwanensisikono1933coleopteraicurculionidaei AT barbaraconti biologicalinsightsontheinvasivefigpestiacleestaiwanensisikono1933coleopteraicurculionidaei AT stefanobedini biologicalinsightsontheinvasivefigpestiacleestaiwanensisikono1933coleopteraicurculionidaei |