OVIPOSITION IN THE CHESTNUT WEEVIL CURCUL IO-ELEPHAS GYLL (COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE)

Oviposition behavior of Curculio elephas comprises three phases : perf oration of the chestnut with its rostrum, inversion and hole seeking, oviposition of an egg. In the laboratory, the total behavioral sequenc e averages 20 mn, but in 47% of their egg-laying trials, females do no t deposit any eggs. A female oviposits one egg in 80% of egg-laying an d 10% of oviposition holes contain two eggs. The total duration of ovi position is short compared to female longevity (21 days on the average ). In 32% of cases, female weevils use already bored oviposition holes , which decreases the overall time of perforation and the energetic an d temporal cost of oviposition. Time invested in oviposition would not be a limiting factor for the fecundity.