Curculio elephas

Last updated

Chestnut weevil
Curculio elephas01.jpg
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Subfamily: Curculioninae
Genus: Curculio
Species:
C. elephas
Binomial name
Curculio elephas
(Gyllenhal 1836)

Curculio elephas is a species of beetle in the family Curculionidae, the true weevils. It is known commonly as the chestnut weevil. It is a serious pest of chestnut (Castanea sativa) in Europe. [1]

Contents

Curculio elephas are similar to Curculio sayi and Curculio caryatrypes in the United States.

Development

Adults feed on chestnut foliage until nut kernels enter the dough stage in mid to late August. Although they can lay eggs any time after kernel filling, most eggs are laid after the bur begins to open. [2] The adult female weevil drills a hole in a chestnut fruit and deposits one egg inside. The eggs are laid into the cupules or around the peduncle joints. Eggs hatch in five to seven days producing large, legless grubs. When the larva emerges from the egg it feeds on the developing chestnut. The larvae leave behind frass and excrement. Infested nuts may contain several weevil larvae or weevil burrows filled with excreta. Upon chestnuts fall, the larvae chew their way out of the nuts and retreat into the ground. They immediately bury themselves several centimeters deep in the soil. The following July, the larvae turn into pupae. Pupae may be in the soil for one season or for several years due to prolonged larval diapause in some individuals. Adult weevils from an extended diapause, emerge, on the average, 1–10 days before those with a simple diapause. The emergence of adult weevils occur always from mid-August to early October. The emerged adults live in the canopy of the chestnut tree. [1]

When a summer is dry, some adults cannot emerge because of the hardness of the soil. Emergence success of females can be between 27–78% versus males. The result is that the sex ratio is female-biased before soil emergence and male-biased after. The year after a summer drought, many reproducing females may emerge from larvae with prolonged diapause. [3]

Infestation

Curculio elephas Curculionidae . Curculio elephas (33105941022).jpg
Curculio elephas

Curculio elephas is not limited to the chestnut. It is also a main predator of the acorns of holm oak (Quercus ilex) and turkey oak. The larvae feed and develop inside the acorns. [4] Planting chestnut orchards beside turkey oak or holm oak stands is not advised in Europe, because both trees are susceptible to the chestnut weevil. Infested holm oak and turkey oak acorns can pass weevils on to chestnut trees. [5]

The adult weevils can be scouted and monitored for their presence by jarring the tree and counting fallen weevils on a white surface. [2]

The larvae of the chestnut weevil must chew their way out of a fallen nut. Increased orchard infestation occurs mostly where chestnuts lie on the ground for a sufficient length of time, or where the trees produce many small fruits which remain behind at the harvest. This allows many larvae to develop and burrow into the ground of an orchard.

In some chestnut-growing regions, infestation of the fruit by weevil larvae can reach 90%. [1]

In China, in 2001, annually, about 20–30% of harvested chestnuts were wasted and spoiled by insect infestation and mildew. [6]

In Hungary, Curculio elephas swarms in chestnut orchards around August 20, particularly strongly around noon and in sunny weather.

Controls

Timing the harvests to pick up the chestnuts as soon as they fall reduces the numbers of the overwintering larvae. Regular soil work is also unfavourable to its life habits. Chemical control of the pest is difficult or unsustainable. Sevin is the only insecticide registered in the US for chestnuts. Applications have proven effective if applied during the mating and early egg-laying period, from early August to mid-September. [2] Other suggested control methods include the use of biological pest control agents, such as fungi and physical controls such as radio waves and heat. [7] [8]

In Turkey, soil treatments underneath a gomu[ clarification needed ] with entomopathogenic Metarhizium brunneum strains ARSEF 4556 and V275 alone and in combination with the entomopathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora have been successful. [9]

In Hungary, in 1971, a warm, aerosol-based protection was developed for older trees, by Sifter and Bürgés. [10]

Weevil damage can be reduced by gathering nuts daily to reduce development time before thermal treatment. Most insects in harvested fruits and nuts can be controlled by thermal treatments over a temperature range of 46-56 °C. [11] [12] [13] [14] Heating gathered chestnuts to 120ºF (49C) for 20 to 30 minutes kills developing eggs and larvae in the nuts. [2]

Related Research Articles

<i>Sitophilus</i> Genus of beetles

Sitophilus is a genus of weevils in the tribe Litosomini. Some species are familiar as pests of stored grain, nut, or seed. Notable pest species include the rice weevil, wheat weevil, and maize weevil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheat weevil</span> Species of beetle

The wheat weevil, also known as the grain weevil or granary weevil, is an insect that feeds on cereal grains, and is a common pest in many places. It can cause significant damage to harvested stored grains and may drastically decrease crop yields. The females lay many eggs and the larvae eat the inside of the grain kernels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vine weevil</span> Species of beetle

Black vine weevil is an insect native to Europe but common in North America as well. It is a pest of many garden plants.

<i>Diaprepes abbreviatus</i> Species of beetle

Diaprepes abbreviatus, also known as the diaprepes root weevil, citrus root weevil and sugarcane rootstock borer weevil, is a species of weevil that is native to the Caribbean, where in Spanish it is colloquially called chichí. It has become an invasive pest in several locations in the United States.

<i>Curculio</i> Genus of beetles

Curculio is a genus of weevils belonging the family Curculionidae and subfamily Curculioninae. Members of the genus are commonly referred to as acorn weevils or nut weevils as they infest the seeds of trees such as oaks and hickories. The adult female weevil bores a tiny hole in the immature nut to lay her eggs, which then hatch into legless grubs. In autumn, the grubs bore holes through the shells from the inside to emerge into the soil where they may live for a year or two before maturing into adults.

<i>Rhynchophorus ferrugineus</i> Pest weevil on palm (oil, coconut, date)

The palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus is one of two species of snout beetle known as the red palm weevil, Asian palm weevil or sago palm weevil. The adult beetles are relatively large, ranging between 2 and 4 centimetres long, and are usually a rusty red colour—but many colour variants exist and have often been classified as different species. Weevil larvae can excavate holes in the trunks of palm trees up to 1 metre (3.3 ft) long, thereby weakening and eventually killing the host plant. As a result, the weevil is considered a major pest in palm plantations, including the coconut palm, date palm and oil palm.

<i>Curculio nucum</i> Species of beetle

Curculio nucum, the nut weevil, is a medium-sized beetle, with an especially elongated snout, characteristic of the Curculionini tribe of the weevil family (Curculionidae). Its larvae develop in hazel nuts Corylus avellana, being a serious pest in hazelnut orchards. It occurs in most of Europe, from south Sweden, Finland and Great Britain to the Mediterranean.

<i>Curculio glandium</i> Species of weevil

Curculio glandium is a species of European carpophagus weevil in the genus Curculio, the acorn and nut weevils. It eats by a rostrum, an elongated snout, that is used for piercing.

<i>Anthonomus eugenii</i> Species of beetle

Anthonomus eugenii is known as the pepper weevil. This beetle feeds and lays eggs on plants in the genus Capsicum and a few species in the genus Solanum. A. eugenii is native to Mexico, however, it is an important pest of Capsicum in Florida, Puerto Rico, and Central America.

Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus is an insect belonging to the order coleoptera. It is native to North America, mostly in the southeastern part of the country, but has been established in California for over 50 years. A separate species of rice water weevil, Lissorhoptrus brevirostris is present in Cuba, Dominican Republic, Colombia, Suriname and Venezuela. Lissorhoptrus oryzophilus began spreading through the rice growing regions of Asia in 1976 ; in Europe it has been present in Italy since 2004, in the regions of the Piedmont and Lombardy where it affects upland rice production

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maize weevil</span> Species of beetle

The maize weevil, known in the United States as the greater rice weevil, is a species of beetle in the family Curculionidae. It can be found in numerous tropical areas around the world, and in the United States, and is a major pest of maize. This species attacks both standing crops and stored cereal products, including wheat, rice, sorghum, oats, barley, rye, buckwheat, peas, and cottonseed. The maize weevil also infests other types of stored, processed cereal products such as pasta, cassava, and various coarse, milled grains. It has even been known to attack fruit while in storage, such as apples.

<i>Curculio caryae</i> Species of beetle

The pecan weevil, Curculio caryae is an obligate feeder on the nuts of North American hickories and pecans, most widely recognized as an economically important pest of the pecan, Carya illinoinensis. It has also been observed to infest one Juglans species, the Persian walnut, Juglans regia.

<i>Curculio occidentis</i> Species of beetle

Curculio occidentis, the filbert weevil, is a species of weevil in the genus Curculio. The weevils are considered a pest for many species of oak tree due to the damage they cause to acorns.

<i>Sternochetus mangiferae</i> Species of beetle

Sternochetus mangiferae is a weevil commonly known as the mango seed weevil, mango stone weevil, or mango weevil. It is a compact weevil typical of the Cryptorhynchinae. It was first described in 1775 in the genus Curculio. The adults are 7.5-9.5 mm long and 4 mm in width.

<i>Bruchus rufimanus</i> Species of beetle

Bruchus rufimanus, commonly known as the broadbean weevil, broadbean beetle, or broadbean seed beetle is a leaf beetle which inhabits crops and fields, as well as some homes. It is a pest of faba beans. The adult beetles feed on pollen, while their larvae tunnel in seeds destroying crops and moving on to new ones once they dry out. The adult beetle, being one of the biggest of its genus, ranges from 3 to 5 mm in length.

<i>Hypera postica</i> Species of beetle

Hypera postica, commonly known as the alfalfa weevil, is a species of beetle in the superfamily Curculionoidea; it can be found in alfalfa fields throughout Europe. Considered a destructive threat to alfalfa production in North America, several accidental introductions have been successfully countered though the use of a variety of biological control species.

<i>Sitona lineatus</i> Species of beetle

Sitona lineatus, commonly known as the pea leaf weevil is a species of weevil with a Palearctic distribution. It is a common pest of beans, peas, and other plants in the family Fabaceae. Adult beetles of S. lineatus measure 3.4-5.3 mm in length. They are characterized by a series of colored scales arranged in alternating lines (striae) on the elytra; it is from this characteristic where the species gets its name lineatus meaning 'lined' or 'striped'. The head and pronotum also have fine pointed setae amongst the scales. The antennae are clubbed, pointed and preceded by 7 segments. The femora is dark, but tibiae and tarsi are red. As a member of Order Coleoptera (beetles) their forewings are modified to form hardened covers over the thorax and abdomen, with the hindwings for flight underneath.

Listronotus oregonensis, the carrot weevil, is a species of weevil in the beetle family Curculionidae. It is found in North America.

Deporaus marginatus, commonly known as the mango leaf-cutting weevil, is a species of leaf weevil in the beetle family Attelabidae. It is a light tan colour with black elytra, and is found in tropical Asia where it is a pest of mango.

<i>Odoiporus longicollis</i> Species of beetle

Odoiporus longicollis, commonly known as banana stem weevil or banana pseudostem borer, is a species of weevil found in South Asia and South East Asia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Paparatti, B. & Speranza, S. (1999). Biological control of chestnut weevil (Curculio elephas Gyll.; Coleoptera, Curculionidae) with the entomopathogens fungus Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuill.(Deuteromycotina, Hyphomycetes). Archived 2018-07-03 at the Wayback Machine In: II International Symposium on Chestnut 1998. pp. 459-466.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Bruce Bordelon, Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, Purdue University, Chestnut Weevils , 2016
  3. Menu, F (1993). "Strategies of emergence in the chestnut weevil Curculio elephas". Oecologia. Springer. 96 (3): 383–390. doi:10.1007/BF00317509. PMID   28313654. S2CID   32907296.
  4. Bonal, R. & Muñoz, A. (2008). Seed growth suppression constrains the growth of seed parasites: premature acorn abscission reduces Curculio elephas larval size. Ecological Entomology, 33(1), 31-36.
  5. The pest control of the Chestnut tree by Dr Péter Szentiványi. Chestnut – Agricultural Publisher. For Sarkpont Cc., Hungary.
  6. C. Zhang, X. Dang, Y. Zhang, Technology of chestnut vacuum processing, Journal of Shaanxi University of Science and Technology (Natural Science Edition), 19 (3) (2001), pp. 31-34 (in Chinese)
  7. Menu, F. & Debouzie, D. (1995) doi/10.1111/j.1439-0418.1995.tb01286.x/abstract Larval development variation and adult emergence in the chestnut weevil Curculio elephas Gyllenhal (Col. Curculionidae).] J. Appl. Ent. 119, 279-284.
  8. Paparatti, B. and Speranza, S. (1999). BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF CHESTNUT WEEVIL (CURCULIO ELEPHAS GYLL.; COLEOPTERA, CURCULIONIDAE) WITH THE ENTOMOPATHOGEN FUNGUS BEAUVERIA BASSIANA (BALSAMO) VUILL. (DEUTEROMYCOTINA, HYPHOMYCETES)SP1¶. Acta Hortic. 494, 459-466 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.1999.494.69
  9. Asan, Cem (December 2017). "An innovative strategy for control of the chestnut weevil Curculio elephas (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using Metarhizium brunneum". Crop Protection. Elsevier. 102: 147–153. doi:10.1016/j.cropro.2017.08.021.
  10. J.A. Johnson, S. Wang, J. Tang, Thermal death kinetics of fifth-instar Plodia interpunctella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Journal of Economic Entomology, 96 (2) (2003), pp. 519-524
  11. J.A. Johnson, K.A. Valero, S. Wang, J. TangThermal death kinetics of red flour beetle (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) Journal of Economic Entomology, 97 (6) (2004), pp. 1868-
  12. Paparatti, B. and Speranza, S. (2005). MANAGEMENT OF CHESTNUT WEEVIL (CURCULIO SPP.)1 , INSECT KEY-PEST IN CENTRAL ITALY. Acta Hortic. 693, 551-556 DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.693.72
  13. Mycoflora and market quality of chestnuts treated with hot water to control the chestnut weevil, JM Wells, JA Payne - Plant Disease, 1980 - apsnet.org

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Curculio elephas at Wikimedia Commons