Leaf-rolling Weevils (Coleoptera: Attelabidae), their host plants, and associated Rhynchitid Weevils in North America (Canada through the Republic of Panama): Summary of a long-term field study

Abstract Predictability of host specificity in plant-insect, insect-insect, and plant-insect-insect interactions is a valuable basis to the application of biological control. There is some evidence of limited congruence between host plant phylogeny and insect phylogeny that might be elaborated as a basis. However, system-wide matrices of data and information hardly exist for the three interactions indicated. The present study provides the surprising results of such a system-wide coverage, encompassing Canada through the Republic of Panama; much complexity and unpredictability is indicated. It is clear that behaviour is more labile than structural (morphological) change, a fact of some importance considering that change in behaviour must be an important precursor to structural change. The following report is a provisional summary of findings of field studies of leaf and terminal cutting weevils, which have been under way on a more or less regular basis since 19 53 in conjunction with field studies of leaf-mining Coleoptera. This personally elected research was undertaken while the writer was a specialist at the Systematic Entomology Laboratory, US Department of Agriculture. The studies were aimed at elucidation of the phenomenon of host plant specificity as it relates to speciation. The work was carried out (mostly at weekends) as a sideline to assigned research on the systematics of plantfeeding Coleoptera and the biological control of weeds.