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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Hilo, Hawaii » Daniel K. Inouye U.S. Pacific Basin Agricultural Research Center » Tropical Crop and Commodity Protection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #214385
Title: Absence of the quarantine pest Elytroteinus subtruncatus in east Hawaii sweet potato fields

Author
item Follett, Peter
item ALONTAGA, D. - USDA-APHIS-PPQ
item TOM, R. - USDA-APHIS
item WEINERT, E. - HAWAII PRIDE LLC
item TSUDA, D. - DEPT PEPS, UH MANOA
item Kinney, Kealoha

Submitted to: Hawaiian Entomological Society Proceedings
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/2/2007
Publication Date: 12/31/2007
Citation: Follett, P.A., R. Tom, D. Alontaga, E.D. Weinert, D.M. Tsuda, K.M. Kinney. 2007. Absence of the quarantine pest Elytroteinus subtruncatus in east Hawaii sweet potato fields. Proc. Hawaiian Entomol. Soc. 39: 33-38.

Interpretive Summary: Hawaii is unable to export its unique varieties of sweet potatoes without quarantine treatment against four high-risk internal pests: West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus, sweetpotato vine borer, Omphisa anastomosalis, and ginger weevil (or Fijian ginger weevil), Elytroteinus subtruncatus are federal quarantine pests, and sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus is a quarantine pest for California and much of the southwestern U.S. Whereas sweet potato is a known host for West Indian sweetpotato weevil, sweetpotato vine borer, and sweetpotato weevil, its host status for ginger weevil is uncertain. Sweet potatoes are currently being exported using irradiation quarantine treatment. Field infestation studies and surveys of commercial shipments form east Hawaii were conducted to provide APHIS data on E. subtruncatus infestation and aid development of appropriate sweet potato sampling, cutting and inspection protocols for the irradiation facility. No E. subtruncatus were found during the surveys, suggesting inspection requirements for this pest should be minimal.

Technical Abstract: Hawaii was unable to export its unique varieties of sweet potatoes without quarantine treatment against four high-risk internal pests: West Indian sweetpotato weevil, Euscepes postfasciatus, sweetpotato vine borer, Omphisa anastomosalis, and ginger weevil (or Fijian ginger weevil), Elytroteinus subtruncatus are federal quarantine pests, and sweetpotato weevil, Cylas formicarius elegantulus is a quarantine pest for California and much of the southwestern U.S. Whereas sweet potato is a known host for West Indian sweetpotato weevil, sweetpotato vine borer, and sweetpotato weevil, its host status for ginger weevil is uncertain. Sweet potatoes are currently being exported using irradiation quarantine treatment. Field infestation studies and surveys of commercial shipments form east Hawaii were conducted to provide APHIS data on E. subtruncatus infestation and aid development of appropriate sweet potato sampling, cutting and inspection protocols for the irradiation facility. In surveys of commercially packed roots, we found 276 sweetpotato weevils, 52 West Indian sweetpotato weevils, and 1 sweetpotato vine borer. No adult E. subtruncatus emerged from the commercial sweet potatoes. In field surveys of infested sweet potatoes, no adult E. subtruncatus emerged from 67.8 kg (150 lbs) of infested sweet potatoes collected in 2006 and 2007, whereas 4,481 sweetpotato weevils, 4,653 West Indian sweetpotato weevils, and 56 sweetpotato vine borers emerged. These results suggest inspection requirements for this E. subtruncatus should be minimal.