VALIDATION OF AN AREA-WIDE EXTENSION PROGRAM TO ESTIMATE THE SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF ADULT CITRUS ROOT WEEVILS WITH UN-BAITED PYRAMIDAL TRAPS

摘要

One hundred modified Tedders traps were monitored weekly for 2.5 years in each of seven citrus orchards located throughout Florida. Temporal patterns of the prevalence of adult Diaprepes abbreviatus at each site were compared to determine the feasibility of using insect abundance in sentinel orchards to schedule pest management activities within a region. Weevil abundance in three orchards on Florida's central ridge exhibited no consistent temporal patterns between years or among sites. In three central and eastern flatwoods sites, the abundance of weevils tended to be highest during the spring and early summer, but the variation in this pattern was high between sites and years. The mean abundance of weevils in the flatwoods sites was more than five-fold greater (P = 0.02) than that for sites on the central ridge. These data suggest the need for site-specific monitoring programs to aid in management of D. abbreviatus. Causes of regional variation in the abundance of D. abbreviatus merit additionalresearch.