Assemblage of Ceutorhynchinae Weevils Associated With Brassicaceae in Quebec (Canada) Agroecosystems

Abstract

Ceutorhynchinae Gistel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are a highly diverse phytophagous group of weevils in which the most species rich genus, Ceutorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is mainly associated with Brassicaceae. Some Ceutorhynchinae, such as the invasive cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), are important pests of cultivated Brassicaceae, and others are natural enemies of weeds and potential biological control agents. This study aims to characterize Ceutorhynchinae assemblages in canola growing regions of Quebec. Ceutorhynchinae were sampled in areas adjacent to canola fields or other crops in six administrative regions of Quebec during the summers of 2019 and 2020. A total of 25 Ceutorhynchinae species were collected and identified. Canonical analysis and multivariate regression tree analysis revealed that the assemblage of Ceutorhynchinae varied regionally and was either dominated by the invasive canola pest CSW or by the native weevil Ceutorhynchus neglectus Blatchley. Our results also highlighted new biological associations between weevils and Brassicaceae like the CSW with the yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris R. Br., native Ceutorhynchus pauxillus Dietz with common pepper grass, Lepidium densiflorum, and native Ceutorhynchus semirufus LeConte with Pennsylvania bittercress, Cardamine pensylvanica Muhl. This study also provides a useful tool to find new biological control agents against Brassicaceae weeds and to monitor the abundance and diversity of this taxon and provide baseline data to assess future impacts of exotic parasitoids of CSW on native weevils.

Keywords: Curculionidae; biocontrol; biological association; multivariate analysis; natural enemy.