The Influencing Factors of Aggregation Behavior of Tree-of-Heaven Trunk Weevil, (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

The tree-of-heaven trunk weevil, (Harold) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is one of the most harmful pests that damage the tree of heaven, Swingle (Sapindales: Simaroubaceae). Aggregation behavior tests of adults were conducted in laboratory conditions. The effects of temperature and light on the aggregation behavior of adults were tested, and the effect of sex and host was conducted with binomial choice experiments. The results showed that (1) the adults aggregate in both light and dark environments but preferred the dark environment, (2) temperature can drive the aggregation of adults, (3) host plants could trigger adults' aggregation behavior, which is probably related to phytochemicals and insect feeding and localization, (4) there was mutual attraction of males and females and chemical attraction of crude intestinal extracts of males and females, and (5) aggregation behavior of adults may also be related to the mediating of physical signals in insects. In this study, aggregation behavior can help us understand conspecific interactions and discover some strategies for effective control.