IMPACT OF INSECTS ON THE REGENERATION POT ENTIAL OF OAKS IN FRANCE .1. ACTION OF PHYLLOPHAGUS CURCULIONIDAE (COLEOPTERA) ON FEMALE FLOWERS PRIOR TO FECUNDATION

Insect damage to female flowers of Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Q. robur L. was surveyed in situ from 1989 to 1993 on isolated oaks as well as on forest trees in the central part of France. Depending on t he year, 200 to 1000 flowers located 2-12 m high were selected and con tinuous observations of damage development were made from bud-burst to fecundation. Thirteen weevil species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), pre viously known only as defoliators, were noticed to attack buds, flower s or peduncles prior to flower fecundation. The most significant damag e was caused by Polydrusus cervinus L., Strophosoma capitatum De Geer, Brachyderes incanus L., Phyllobius piri (L.) and Coeliodes ilicis (Be d.). Details of the biology of these species and the damage caused are given.