Submitted to: Applied Entomology and Zoology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/4/2019
Publication Date: 9/16/2019
Citation: Wu, P., Haseeb, M., Zhang, R., Kanga, L.H., Legaspi, J.C. 2019. In vitro consumption patterns of pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) on two commercial pepper cultivars in Florida. Applied Entomology and Zoology. 54:473-479. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-019-00645-x.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13355-019-00645-x

Interpretive Summary: The pepper weevil is a major pest of pepper worldwide. Although the weevil likely originated from Mexico, currently it can be found throughout Central America, the southern United States and parts of Europe. In Florida, the commercial pepper varieties that appear most resistant to the pepper weevil are "Habanero" and "Jalapeño". Scientists at the USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural and Veterinary Entomology, Tallahassee, FL, in collaboration with researchers from Florida A&M University compared the potential of the two varieties to control pest populations of the weevil. Under laboratory conditions, Habanero was found to be less susceptible to weevil attack based on reduced consumption over time and slower search when compared to Jalapeño. A subsequent study showed that larger and heavier Habanero fruits, with thicker walls were less susceptible to weevil damage. This studies suggest that selected pepper cultivars and fruit characteristics can potentially reduce crop loss caused by the pepper weevil.

Technical Abstract: The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a major pest of pepper. To analyze the consumption characteristics of pepper weevil as a reference for pest management strategies, the functional response, the intraspecific competition and the preference of A. eugenii were evaluated under laboratory conditions. The results showed that compared to Jalapeño, the pepper cultivar Habanero has a lower susceptibility due to the less consumption, lower searching rate and longer handling time of A. eugenii. Pepper weevils suffered from intraspecific competition when consuming Habanero or Jalapeño. Fruit wall thicknesses, weights and sizes were negatively correlated with the numbers of puncture marks per fruit, so large-sized, thick-walled and large-mass fruits were less susceptible to A. eugenii. The present study indicates choosing pepper cultivars and characteristics with low susceptibility to A. eugenii, and utilizing the intraspecific competition between pepper weevils have a potential to control the pest.