A Lesser Known Pecan Pest:The Nut Curculio

摘要

Broad knowledge of the arthropod pests attacking pecans enhances one's pestmanagement in pecan orchards. When the focus is on the major pests we are familiar with, we miss detecting signs and symptoms of minor pests. Even though minor pests cause little economic injury to the tree or crop, occasionally their numbers and subsequent damage can cause problems. Understanding what you see in your orchard can assist with pest identification and management decisions. For instance, when it comes to pests attacking the nut, pecan weevil, stink bugs, pecan nut casebearer, and the hickory shuckworm dominate the discussion, and for good reason. However, these are not the only pests attacking the pecan nut. A nut pest you should be familiar with is the nut curculio (Conotrachelus hicoriae), a weevil species that feeds on hickory and pecannuts. It is usually a minor pest of pecan nuts most years where it occurs. In some areas of Louisiana, the nut curculio is reported as a pest that needs to be managed.