Acorn Fall and Weeviling in a Northern Red Oak

In 2000, we determined levels of damage by acorn weevils (Curculio spp.) and patterns of acorn fall in a northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) seedling orchard in eastern Tennessee. The mean (ISE) production of acorns among 43 selected trees was 5,930 rt 586 acorns per tree with a maximum production level of 16,969 acorns for one tree. Trees were selected in the spring of 2000 based on abundance of acornets. The mean ( iSE) damage level to acorns was 33 (12) percent (determined by dissection). The floating method for assessing sound acorns overestimated acorn damage by 36 percent overall. Weevils accounted for approximately 66 percent of all damage to acorns. We found that the percentage of weeviled acorns was negatively correlated to total acorn production per tree. The rate of acorn drop was higher in October and November than in September. However, the percentage of acorns damaged by weevils was higher for acorns falling in September than for acorns falling in October or November.