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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Wooster, Ohio » Application Technology Research » Entomology » Development of Harmonic Radar Transponders to Track Black Vine Weevil Behavior in Nurseries
Development of Harmonic Radar Transponders to Track Black Vine Weevil Behavior in Nurseries
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H. Zhu, R.D. Brazee, M.E. Reding
USDA-ARS Application Technology Research Unit, Wooster, OH


Black vine weevil with attached radio transmitter
The black vine weevil (BVW), Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius), is a particularly troublesome pest for growers of ornamental and other nursery crops. In addition to field and landscape plantings, it commonly infests containerized perennials in greenhouse and polyhouse production settings, feeding on over 100 different kinds of trees, shrubs, vines, and flowers.

 

Unfortunately, knowledge about the behavior and movement of this insect is very incomplete, thereby hampering the development of effective control measures.

In response to this problem, scientists with the USDA ARS Application Technology Research Unit have developed a Harmonic Radar Transponder to track black vine weevil movement.

Researchers and growers can use the behaviorial information gathered using this technology to develop improved or alternative management strategies and more effectively time and target control measures.

Field trial to track black vine weevil
Electromagnetic field pattern
For more information see:
A Transponder for Harmonic Radar Tracking of the Black Vine Weevil in Behavioral Research Publication
Contact:
Heping Zhu or Mike Reding