Systemic Insecticides for Control of Black Vine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Container- and Field-Grown Nursery Crops

Abstract Acoustic detection systems have been developed to locate and target hidden infestations of root weevil larvae in container-grown nursery crops. Tests were conducted in laboratory and field environments with natural and artificial infestations of Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) in containers with different nursery plants to determine whether the larvae were large enough for acoustic detection during late fall when scouting for infestation often occurs at commercial nurseries in Oregon. The rootballs of tested plants were examined to verify the presence or absence of larvae. All of the containers rated at high likelihood of infestation contained O. sulcatus larvae (29% of those tested). No larvae were found in any containers rated at low likelihood of infestation (20%). Sporadic sounds were detected but failed to exhibit periodicity suggestive of infestation in 51% of the containers (rated at medium likelihood). Fifty seven percent of these medium-rated containers were infested. Experience with the use of the acoustic system in field environments suggested improvements in user-friendliness and robustness that could improve its utility for early detection and targeting applications in commercial nurseries.

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Efficacy of Metarhizium anisopliae as a Curative Application for Black Vine Weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) Infesting Container-Grown Nursery Crops

Journal of Environmental Horticulture ◽

10.24266/0738-2898-25.3.150 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 150-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Denny J. Bruck

Keyword(s):

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Metarhizium Anisopliae ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Speed Of Kill ◽

Otiorhynchus Sulcatus ◽

Black Vine Weevil ◽

Nursery Crops ◽

The Impact

Abstract The black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (F.) is a serious pest of nursery crops. The fungus, Metarhizium anisopliae (F52), is registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for BVW control. The objectives of this study were to determine the efficacy of a curative drench application of M. anisopliae for controlling BVW larval infestations in container-grown nursery plants and the effect of temperature on the rate of fungal growth and speed of kill. Trials evaluating the efficacy of M. anisopliae as a curative application were performed in the spring of 2004 and 2005 as well as the fall of 2006. Laboratory studies were performed to quantify the impact of temperature (10, 15, 20, 24 and 28C) on fungal growth and speed of kill. Metarhizium anisopliae applied in the greenhouse and outdoors in 2004 were 92 and 30% effective, respectively. Fungal applications to container-grown plant material maintained outdoors in the spring of 2005 were nearly 100% effective 28 days after application. Fall applications in 2006 provided statistically significant reductions in the number of live BVW larve per pot, but were not as effective as spring applications in 2005. The mean media temperature of containers maintained outdoors in the fall of 2006 dropped considerably (10–12C) over the course of the experiment and were likely the cause for the reduced efficacy. Laboratory experiments demonstrated that temperatures below 20C (68F) significantly slowed fungal growth and the speed at which M. anisopliae infected BVW larvae. In the field, drench applications of M. anisopliae were very effective at eliminating BVW larvae in container-grown nursery plants when media temperatures were adequate (> 15C (59F)). The use of M. anisopliae as a curative drench application has similar temperature-dependent limitations as the use of entomopathogenic nematodes for BVW control. Therefore, applications should occur as early in the fall as possible once egg laying has ended or in late spring just prior to pupation when media temperatures would be most conducive to fungal infection.

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Black Vine Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Performance in Container- and Field-Grown Hosts

Journal of Entomological Science ◽

10.18474/0749-8004-43.3.300 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 43 (3) ◽

pp. 300-310 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Michael E. Reding

Keyword(s):

Plant Species ◽

Field Trial ◽

Adult Stage ◽

Bare Soil ◽

Small Field ◽

Restricted Diet ◽

Otiorhynchus Sulcatus ◽

Black Vine Weevil ◽

Nursery Crops ◽

Field Plots

The black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus F.) feeds on a variety of plant species and is a serious pest of ornamental nursery crops. The larval stage has a more restricted diet than the adult stage, but the larvae are more damaging because they feed on roots and often stunt or kill their hosts. Performance and establishment of larvae in various container- and field-grown nursery crops were examined. In trials on containerized plants, adult black vine weevil were caged with various combinations of known larval hosts. In these trials, most larvae were found in Sedum and Heuchera versus Astilbe, redbud, and Taxus. Larvae collected from Sedum weighed significantly more than those from Heuchera or Taxus. In one field trial, adult black vine weevils were released, and establishment of larvae among potential hosts was examined. In this trial, Sedum was a better host than hemlock or Rudbeckia. Based on the numbers of larvae found in the different plant species, Sedum was the best host for larvae. Another field trial examined the influence of mulch on the occurrence of larvae. The presence of mulch around small field-grown Taxus plants did not increase the numbers of larvae compared with bare soil. The presence of aged pine bark or Taxus needle mulches did not influence the occurrence of black vine weevils in field plots of young Taxus. Data from monitoring adults suggest they either emigrated from these plots within several weeks of emergence, although suitable hosts were present, or there was high mortality.

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Stem treatments to cotton with systemic insecticides against Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (F.)

Bulletin of Entomological Research ◽

10.1017/s0007485300052913 ◽

1968 ◽

Vol 57 (4) ◽

pp. 553-558

Author(s):

R. L. Ridgway ◽

L. A. Bariola ◽

S. L. Jones ◽

W. L. Lowry

Keyword(s):

Heliothis Zea ◽

Large Field ◽

Field Cage ◽

Systemic Action ◽

American Cyanamid ◽

Systemic Insecticides ◽

Dimethyl Phosphate ◽

First Instar ◽

Sucrose Solutions ◽

Cotton Plants

Laboratory and field-cage studies were conducted in Texas in 1965 to evaluate treatments of the systemic insecticides, Azodrin (3-hydroxy-N-methyl-cis-crotonamide dimethyl phosphate), Bidrin (3-hydroxy-N, N dimethyl-cis-crotonamide dimethyl phosphate), American Cyanamid CL-47031 (cyclic ethylene (diethoxy-phosphinyl) dithioimidocarbonate) and Temik (2-methyl-2-(methylthio) propion-aldehyde O-(methylcarbamoyl) oxime), applied incorporated in lanolin to the stems of cotton plants against Heliothis zea (Boddie) and H. virescens (F.). Reductions in numbers of developing larvae of H. zea were substantial on individual plants the stems of which had been treated with Azodrin or CL-47031 and which were artificially infested with eggs. When first-instar larvae of H. zea or H. virescens were caged on plants 3, 7 or 14 days after stem treatment with 2.5, 5.0 or 100 mg. Azodrin, Bidrin or CL-47031 per plant, net mortalities ranged from 21 to 80 per cent after three days. The mortality of adults of H. zea provided with sucrose solutions containing 1 p.p.m. of the systemic insecticides indicated that Azodrin and Bidrin were about equally toxic and much more so than CL-47031 and Temik, and that of adults caged on individual plants in flower that had been treated with Azodrin or CL-47031 suggested that the moths may be killed by the systemic action of these insecticides translocated to the nectar. When adults of H. virescens were released on plants each treated with Azodrin at 25 or 30 mg. in large field cages, reductions in the numbers of eggs deposited, attributed to the effect on the moths of the insecticide in the nectar, and in the numbers of developing larvae, were substantial. Azodrin was the most consistently effective of the four insecticides evaluated.

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