Performing Department
Everglades Research and Education Center, Belle Glade
Non Technical Summary
The Sri Lanka weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus Marshall, is an invasive species not previously known from the new world until its discovery in Broward County, Florida in 2000. In eight years, it has spread to 18 Florida counties on both coasts. Adults cause excessive leaf damage to a growing list of at least 138 plant species, including many important commercial tropical fruits and ornamental plants. The immature stages are spent entirely in the soil where larvae damage roots. The quarantine on this species is affecting domestic and international commerce of these industries. There is a critical need to develop improved management strategies as quickly as possible to reduce the level of damage where it already exists, and to reduce the risk of it spreading to new areas, particularly Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. Understanding the biology of this insect is critical to this process. The overall objective of this project is to develop the knowledge required to produce effective and economic short- and long-term solutions for management of this introduced pest. Research on Sri Lanka weevil development, field ecology, damage assessment, control and distribution will be conducted in infested groves and at research centers to produce the information necessary to deliver effective tools for non-disruptive management of this species. Research and Extension entomologists, horticulturalists, and a nematologist will cooperate over the two-year project to conduct research and distribute the findings through bi-lingual extension documents and presentations throughout southern Florida and Puerto Rico.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
50%
Applied
50%
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The overall objective of this proposed work is to develop the knowledge required to produce effective and economic short- and long-term solutions for management of the Sri Lanka weevil. Research on Sri Lanka weevil development, field ecology, control and distribution will be conducted to produce the information necessary to deliver effective tools for non-disruptive management of this species. Specific objectives are as follows: Determine the field biology for all developmental stages of SLW. Evaluate trapping methodologies for early detection and to determine SLW recruitment rates. Determine the short-term effects of leaf feeding on plant growth and reproduction of tropical fruits. Identify key plants for use in surveys and for long-term protection. Identify and evaluate commercially available natural enemies, chemical and biological pesticides, and repellents for management of SLW (Florida) and closely related root weevils (Puerto Rico). Conduct surveys of Puerto Rican flora to determine the status of SLW. Produce research and extension publications in English and Spanish on the biology and management of SLW. Expected outputs are as follows: Experiments to determine SLW field biology so that appropriate control measures can be applied to the most sensitive points of the life cycle. Experiments to determine effective strategies for controlling SLW in commercial tree crops planted in the soil and in containers. Experiments to determine the most appropriate sampling strategy to locate and monitor SLW populations in established and newly infested regions. Surveys of Puerto Rico and southern Florida to establish the presence or absence of SLW by county and by effected commodities. Following analysis the results of experiments and surveys will be disseminated at scientific and at extension meetings. Extension documents appropriate for Florida and Puerto Rico will be produced in English and Spanish to provide additional information to clientele. Puerto Rican surveys will produce a list of native and introduced weevil species that will provide a basis for future quarantine and eradication efforts.
Project Methods
Field observations, experiments and surveys will be organized to produce reproducible results to questions posed in the project's objectives. Weekly observations and experimental units replicated in space and time will produce results suitable for statistical analysis the outcomes of which will be used to make decisions on future research and control efforts. Extension outputs will be gauged for effectiveness based on pre and post grower tests and surveys and analysis of costs and farm income.