pepper weevil in new jersey joseph ingerson-mahar vegetable ipm coordinator
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Pepper Weevil in New Jersey
Joseph
Ingerson-Mahar
Vegetable IPM Coordinator
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Background
• In 2004, one NJ farmer lost an estimated $60,000 due to an infestation of pepper weevil, which attacked all varieties of peppers on the farm.
• A sporadic pest in NJ, the infestation was not recognized until significant damage had been done.
• In 2005 a general panic ensued when it appeared that pepper weevil had been found again.
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2005 - What happened?
• Because of the 2004 infestation, local farmers were concerned about potential infestations
• Weevils of the same size, shape, coloration were caught immediately when pheromone traps were set
• Lack of accurate literature on identifying pepper weevil adults
• Similar weevils found at other farms – the tip off that something was wrong
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2005 - What happened?
• Lack of accompanying information on pepper weevil traps
• Disadvantages of the traps– Pheromone lures also attracted at least 3 other
species of weevils, which were similar in size and color
– Yellow sticky card attracted many other insects – especially whiteflies and thrips, beetles, flies
– Sticky card material tore easily and slid done dowel supporting it
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This is not the first time…
• Serious infestations have occurred in New Jersey in the past– 1957, 1967,1985, 1988 and 1989 (Ghidiu and
Rabin – ‘The Grower’, 1991)
• There was a light infestation at Centerton Research Farm and a local farm in unsprayed pepper plots in 1999
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Recognizing pepper weevil
Round compact abdomen
Long slender snout
Elbowed, clubbed antennae
Femur
Tibia
Spur/spine on underside of femur
Overall size – 3/16”
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Adult is about 3/16 inch long
Adults readily fly
Texas threshold is to spray if 1 beetle is found in 200 plants – 0 tolerance
Normally an extreme southern insect, northern infestations are a result of hitchhiking
Pepper Weevil Biology
J. Ingerson-Mahar
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Life Cycle
• Female beetle lays 200 – 300 eggs in flower buds and small fruit• 2 ½ to 3 weeks to complete life cycle• Overwinter only in
southern parts of Florida, Texas and
California
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Damage – ovipositional scars
J. Ingerson-Mahar J. Ingerson-Mahar
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Damage – larval feeding
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Larval and pupal stages
larva
pupa
J. Ingerson-Mahar
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Larval and pupal closeups
Legless grubs
Pupae
Photo credit: Extension Entomology, Department of Entomology,
Texas A&M University
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Adults
Adult exit holeAdults remain in the fruit until either they chew a hole to escape or the pepper rots
J. Ingerson-Mahar
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What to look for…
• Aborted fruit and
flowers• Less yield than
expected
J. Ingerson-Mahar
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Beating for Adults
Adult weevils can be found by beating:
Hold a pan under a branch of the pepper plant and strike the branch with a screwdriver or handle. The adults will fall into the pan
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Insecticidal Control
• Difficult to achieve control of a large infestation
An insecticide application may kill the exposed adults but more adults will emerge as the pupae mature making repeated insecticide applications necessary.
Pupa in cell inside pepper
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We recommend…
• Not to rely on pepper weevil pheromone traps until the lure is made more selective for pepper weevil. Instead…
• Be diligent in checking for excessive flower and fruit drop and periodically cut open dropped fruit looking for the larvae, pupae or adults of the weevil.