Acorn Weevil Species Diversity and Host Affinity in the Semi-Humid Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests of Southwest China

Shengquan Fang; Shaoji Hu; Biao Zhao; Dengpeng Chen; Chunyan Lan; Xinrong Li; Yongping Li; Mingchun Peng; Zihao Wang; Mingyu Ge; Chongyun Wang

doi:10.3390/insects16060579

Acorn Weevil Species Diversity and Host Affinity in the Semi-Humid Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forests of Southwest China

Insects. 2025 May 30;16(6):579. doi: 10.3390/insects16060579.

Authors

Shengquan Fang^{1

2

3}, Shaoji Hu^{4

5}, Biao Zhao^{1

2}, Dengpeng Chen^{1

2}, Chunyan Lan^{1

2}, Xinrong Li^{1

2}, Yongping Li⁶, Mingchun Peng^{1

2}, Zihao Wang^{1

2}, Mingyu Ge^{1

2}, Chongyun Wang^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
² Institute of Ecology and Geobotany, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
³ Yuxi Institute of Ecology and Environment Science, Yuxi 653100, China.
⁴ Institute of International Rivers and Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
⁵ Yunnan Key Laboratory of International Rivers and Transboundary Eco-Security, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.
⁶ School of Agriculture, Yunnan University, Kunming 650500, China.

Abstract

Acorn weevils critically impact forest regeneration in semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forests (SEBFs) by parasitizing and consuming acorns before dispersal. Despite their ecological significance, research on the species diversity of acorn weevils within SEBFs remains limited. To address this gap, we assessed the species diversity and host affinity of acorn weevils across six dominant oak species at 18 locations. We performed DNA extraction and mitochondrial COI gene sequencing on weevil larvae and analyzed acorn functional traits (AFTs) from host acorns. Six acorn weevil species across four genera and two families were identified within the dominant acorns of SEBFs. Curculio dentipes showed the lowest host specificity, while Niphades castanea and Cyllorhynchites ursulus were specialist species. Notably, the species diversity of acorn weevils was significantly lower in Quercus franchetii than in others. Acorn volume and three secondary metabolite contents, including total phenols, total flavonoids, and tannins, were the primary AFTs influencing weevil species diversity. This study not only advances our comprehension of acorn weevil species diversity and their ecological interactions with oak hosts, but also provides valuable insights for the ecological management of SEBFs in southwest China.

Keywords: acorn functional traits; acorn weevils; semi-humid evergreen broad-leaved forests; species diversity.

Abstract

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