CLEOGONUS WEEVIL SEED PREDATION ON ANDIRA CAN BE PREDICTED BY FRUIT PUNCTURES

Abstract

When Andira inermis (Leguminosae) fruits are sorted into those with 0, 1, 2-5, and greater than 5 feeding and oviposition punctures by Cleogonus weevils, there is 100, 87, 65, and 2 percent seed survival in these four categories, respectively (lowland Guanacaste Province, Costa Rica). These results suggest that the bats that harvest the fruits and disperse the seeds could increase seed survivorship by selecting fruits with 0 to 5 feeding punctures.