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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #230187
Title: Sampling methods of Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults

Author
item Epsky, Nancy
item WALKER, ALISON - FAIRCHILD TROP BOT GARDEN
item Kendra, Paul

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/17/2009
Publication Date: 6/1/2009
Citation: Epsky, N.D., Walker, A., Kendra, P.E. 2009. Sampling methods of Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults. Florida Entomologist. 92:388-390.

Interpretive Summary: An exotic Myllocerus weevil, first found in south Florida in 1995, has a broad host range and damage by this insect is a concern to homeowners and landscape professionals. Little is known about this insect, including larval host plants and recommended sampling methods for adults. Therefore, research was conducted by scientists SHRS that used emergence traps placed under host trees to confirm larval development in the rootzones of those trees, and to compare numbers obtained in these traps with numbers obtained from other standard sampling methods for pest weevils. Adults emerged from pupation sites under all adults host trees, with the greatest adult emergence occurring during late fall and winter. Tedders (pyramid) traps were found to be a practical sampling method for this insect. This study presents the first documentation of the population dynamics of this insect, information needed to develop effective IPM programs needed by growers and homeowners to reduce damage caused by this pest.

Technical Abstract: An exotic weevil Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus Marshall was first found in south Florida in 1995. The adults have a broad host range that includes foliage of fruit trees, ornamentals and vegetables, but little is known about their basic biology, including larval host plants. Studies were conducted from July 2005 to January 2007 at the USDA/ARS research station in Miami, FL, that used emergence traps placed within the dripline of target trees to document adult emergence beneath those trees. Numbers obtained in emergence traps were compared with numbers obtained concurrently with beat samples, visual counts, Lindgren 4-funnel traps and/or Tedders (pyramid) traps. Adults were captured in emergence traps throughout the study, but correlation with other sampling methods was variable. Visual counts, beat samples and Lindgren trap captures were correlated in experiments when all were evaluated, however few adults were captured in Lindgren traps. During a 25 wk sampling period from August 2006 to January 2007, average number of weevils in beat samples was 9.5 ± 8.36. Numbers of weevils obtained in beat samples tended to be higher during summer or fall, and the highest captures in emergence traps were in late fall or winter. Captures in Tedders traps and emergence traps were correlated, with captures of 3.3 ± 6.44 and 2.9 ± 5.76 weevils per trap per week, respectively. Tedders traps could be a practical monitoring method for this weevil.