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Title: INFESTATION TESTS OF SUBTROPICAL AND TROPICAL FRUITS BY SOUTHERN STRAIN PLUM CURCULIO (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Author
item Hallman, Guy
item GOULD, WALTER - APHIS-PPQ

Submitted to: Florida Entomologist
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/12/2004
Publication Date: 6/1/2004
Citation: Hallman, G.J., Gould, W.P. 2004. Infestation tests of subtropical and tropical fruits by southern strain plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Florida Entomologist. 87:241-243.

Interpretive Summary: Southern strain plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), is a pest found only in temperate North America. Other countries quarantine against fruit hosts of it, such as pome and stone fruits and blueberries. Adults of the insect were offered 22 immature tropical and subtropical fruits from 16 families to see if it would widen its host range outside of temperate regions. It fed to varying degrees on the different fruits and completed development on loquat, Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. Loquat belongs to the same family (Rosaceae) as most of the temperate hosts of plum curculio, such as apple, plum, and peach.

Technical Abstract: Southern strain plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) , was offered 22 immature tropical and subtropical fruits from 16 families to explore if the pest would widen its host range outside of temperate regions. It fed to varying degrees on the different fruits and completed development on loquat, Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. Loquat belongs to the same family (Rosaceae) as most of the temperate hosts of plum curculio, such as apple, plum, and peach