Pecan Weevil UpdatePecan Weevil Update

Sherry Sanderson

Chief

Entomology and Nursery Industries Bureau

New Mexico Department of Agriculture

BiologyBiology

2-3 year life cycleAdult emerges, feeds and lays egg in

gel stage of pecan nutLarvae feed on the pecan nutletLarvae drills a hole in pecan nut and

drop to the groundLarvae tunnels 12” to 24” inches into

soil

HostsHosts

Pecan American Hickory

LocationLocation

Pecan Weevil is found from New York to Iowa to Oklahoma, and across the southeastern states. In Texas, the weevil is found in 131 counties.

Eradication EffortsEradication Efforts

Emergence MonitoringInsecticide ApplicationsCold TreatmentCleaning Plant InspectionsImport Inspections

Emergence MonitoringEmergence MonitoringCounties monitored

– Dona Ana, Luna, Otero

Emergence traps placed in orchards and yard– Determine adult emergence

Nutlet monitoring– Sampled to determine stage

Applications were started during water stage – prior to gel stage or upon weevil capture

Insecticide ApplicationsInsecticide Applications

Prior to gel stage– Labeled rates of Fury® and/or

Sevin XLR®

Applications – July/August-September– Every 7-10 days– Owner responsible for spraying– Contractor hired

Trapping Results 2003Trapping Results 2003

Trapped 7 pecan weevils in infested areas– 6 weevils in Dona Ana County– 1 weevil in Otero County

Pecan nuts found by inspectors with pecan weevil larvae exit hole– 0 nuts in Dona Ana County orchard– 0 nuts in Luna County backyard– 0 nuts in Otero County orchard

Cleaning Plant InspectionsCleaning Plant Inspections Hired 4 temporary inspectors Areas inspected (# of cleaning plants inspected)

Pecos Valley - 15 Otero County - 7 Mesilla Valley

– North Valley - 14– South Valley - 20

Luna County - 2 Sierra County - 1

Cleaning plants inspected twice weekly– November, 2002 to February, 2003

Inspected trash piles, seconds, etc.

Harvest Harvest Pecans at infested orchards

– Cleaned at one facility – Cold treatment

7 days (168 hrs) at 0 degrees F Cleaning Trash

– Subjected to cold treatment prior to disposal Custom Harvesting

– Monitored all movement and cleaning of equipment

House SurveyHouse Survey

Deming (houses in a 10 block (E-W & N-S)– 42 houses with pecan trees inspected – No

evidence of pecan weevil

Tularosa and Alamogordo– Inspector randomly inspected pecan trees in

Tularosa and Alamogordo area - No evidence of pecan weevil

Imported PecansImported Pecans Interstate/Intrastate

– Master Permits Alabama Texas

– Random checks of retail areas inspections - 67

International– Compliance agreements with importers

Check all certifications Trash disposal requirements Inspect loads

What NextWhat Next

Otero County– 1 weevil captured– Spray – 2 more years

Dona Ana County– 6 weevil captured– Spray – 2 more years

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements

Western Pecan Growers Association Pecan Task Force New Mexico State University Otero County Pecan Growers Association Otero County Cooperative Extension Service Texas Agricultural Extension Service, Bill Ree Agriliance Rose Garcia, Juan Gamon, Bill Guthrie, Barbara Sharpe NMDA staff