D3530: Life history and ecology of four species of Dorytomus Germar 1817 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) associated with Populus spp. in Arizona

Dorytomus is a highly diverse genus of Holarctic weevils associated with species of Salix and Populus in the Willow family (Salicaceae). Larvae develop inside the catkins (flowering structures) of their host trees in early spring, while adults feed on leaves during summer. Species of Dorytomus exhibit variation in their preference for host plant catkins, with some utilizing both male and female catkins, while others specialize on one sex. This variation in host plant sex preference, coupled with the narrow reproductive window during spring budding, makes Dorytomus a promising system for studying how plant dioecy influences the ecological specialization of insect herbivores. However, despite early work on the genus by European authors and a seminal revision of the Nearctic species by Charles O’Brien in 1970, life history data for most Dorytomus species remain incomplete. To address this knowledge gap, we present preliminary findings from a survey of Dorytomus species in Arizona, conducted from 2021 to 2024. Our study documents the life histories and ecological relationships of four Dorytomus species associated with Populus, including one species newly recorded for Arizona. We discuss insights into host plant preferences, larval development, and tritrophic interactions, shedding light on the ecological signficance of this genus.