An investigation of the nutritional physiology of the wood-boring weevil Euophryum confine Broun

IRG/WP 94-10082

A J Pitman, S M Cragg, G S Sawyer

The digestion of Picea abies Karst and Pinus sylvestris L. by Euophryum confine, at two sites is reported in this study. The composition of sound wood, wood from the heads of the weevil tunnels and the frass egested has been determined by gravimetric analysis. A comparison of sound wood and wood ingested showed that weevils tunnelled in microbially decayed wood, while a comparison of the wood ingested and frass egested showed weevils digested 15.5% of the hot water solubles, 22.5% of the hemicelluose and 26.7% of the cellulose in wood during gut transit, assuming lignin remained unchanged.


Keywords: GRAVIMETRIC ANALYSIS; SOUND WOOD; PINUS SYLVESTRIS; PICEA ABIES; HEADS OF TUNNELS; FRASS; DIGESTION CO-EFFICIENT

Conference: 94-05-29...06-03, Nusa Dua, Bali, Indonesia


Download document (808 kb)
free for the members of IRG. Available if purchased.

Purchase this document