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Oak seed predatory weevils occurring in Poland are prone to increased interspecific competition due to the limited number of Quercus species, compared to southern Europe, in which they can develop. Therefore, analyses on the preferences of three weevil species for acorn sizes chosen for reproduction, as well as on reproductive period duration, were performed. Cafeteria-type experiments were set for females of three species associated with one oak species. Females were allowed to choose and oviposit in acorns of different sizes and growth stages. Research revealed statistically significant differences between the masses of acorns chosen for oviposition by females of Curculio glandium (the biggest), C. pellitus (medium), and C. venosus (the smallest). Studied weevils also differed in terms of the beginning of the reproductive period, which corresponded with the increasing mass of growing acorns. Moreover, C. glandium was observed to be the only species to perform radial egg galleries and lay a considerably higher and varied number of eggs. The results support the hypothesis of a strategy aimed at reducing interspecific competition between Curculio spp. in terms of limited host plant species number.

The family Trombiculidae encompasses numerous and widespread mites, the larvae of which are obligatory parasites of vertebrates. Our research objective was to assess how trombiculid burdens on rodents inhabiting three forested and one open area in NE Poland vary in relation to host identity, sex and body size, and how they are influenced by qualities of the habitat. Trapped rodents (n = 240) were measured, weighted and screened for ectoparasites. Apodemus flavicollis (n = 42) and Myodes glareolus (n = 173) harbored a total of 4652 Hirsutiella zachchvatkini larvae. Statistical tests revealed that both prevalence and abundance were significantly higher in voles (93%, 27 larvae/ind.) than in mice (14%, 0.24 larvae/ind.) but there was no effect of host sex. Among the localities, H. zachvatkini was most prevalent (98%) and abundant (41 larvae/ind.) in rodents from the deciduous mixed forest in Tałty compared to fallow land (2.6%, 0.13 larvae/ind.). The highest prevalence and abundance were found in bank voles; in this host species in Tałty, prevalence reached 100% and the mean abundance was >42 larvae/ind. Significant positive correlations were found between the body mass and body length of voles and the number of attached larvae. Our results confirm the sylvan nature of H. zachvatkini and its preference for bank voles inhabiting deciduous forests with rich and humid undergrowth. The lack of a sex bias and the moderate correlation between mite burden and host size are in line with observations already made on other rodent-associated Trombiculidae.

Curculio glandium is one of the pre-dispersal seed predators occurring in Central Europe. It is associated with Quercus robur, the acorns of which are shelter and food sources for developing larvae. Females of the species, to our knowledge, are lacking in marking pheromones or do not use them; therefore, in nature, multiple infestations (over 10 eggs or larvae) of the same host fruit can be found. Such density can provoke very strong competition, which was verified in this study. The survival rate and body mass of 695 second-instar larvae, competing in various test groups (one, three, five, eight and ten larvae) offered one acorn, were measured and video recordings made in order to describe their behavior and determine differences between groups. Experimental observations indicated that when the density of larvae in an acorn increased, the survival rate and body mass significantly decreased—being the lowest in test groups consisting of eight and ten individuals. In the latter groups, also the acorn embryo was completely consumed. Video footage, along with the presence of dead, nibbled larvae and living ones covered with scars resembling mouthparts, is evidence for aggression and cannibalism in the second and the third larval instars—behavior scarce in weevils and in phytophagous insects in general. Results confirm the assumption that in heavily infested oak fruits, competition between individuals is so strong that it involves cannibalism, which at the same time provides the strongest larvae with additional nutrients.