Foraging resources of boll weevils (Coleoptera : Curculionidae)

Pollen analyses were used to determine alternative foraging resources of sp ring and early season adult boil weevils, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, in 19 95 at three Texas locations: Uvalde, Crockett, and Munday. Overall, 82% of the boil weevils (n = 486) contained pollen, and over 8,900 pollen grains w ere encountered. Pollen representing 58 families, 97 genera, and 46 species were identified in the samples. Salicaceae (28%), Fabaceae (13%), and Poac eae (8%) pollen grains represented the highest percentage of pollen types: whereas, Poaceae (45%), Asteraceae (43%), and Fabaceae (34%) pollen grains were found in the greatest number of samples. Fabaceae had more pollen taxa followed by Asteraceae. Uvalde samples had the highest species diversity a nd species richness. Although there were no significant differences in spec ies diversity, richness, and evenness among the three sites, there was a si gnificant reduction in species diversity in Munday samples from June to Jul y. Our research shows that bell weevils at three Texas locations foraged on a variety of pollen. Identified pollen spectra reflected the habitat from where the boil weevils were captured.