MIGRATION OF LARVAE OF THE LARGE PINE WEEVIL, HYLOBIUS-ABIETIS L. (COL., CURCULIONIDAE) - POSSIBLE PREDATION A LESSER RISK THAN DEATH BY STARVATION

The ability of Hylobius abietis larvae to migrate through soil was inv estigated and experiments to establish whether migrating larvae were v ulnerable to predation by carabid beetles, was conducted. The five wee k long investigation used three species of carabid. In the presence of one species, Pterostichus madidus, a significantly smaller number of successful migrations occurred than in the controls and other carabid treatments. This indicated that P. madidus consumed the larvae as they migrated through the soil, a conclusion supported by survival in the originally 'infested' piece of pine being similar for all the treatmen ts in the procedure. The results of the investigation also indicated t hat migration increased overall larval survival. The implications of t hese findings for pest management strategies are discussed.