Insecticidal Control of Pepper Weevil on Serrano Pepper, 2000

P. A. Stansly, J. M. Conner and D.R. Peach
University of Florida/IFAS
Southwest Florida Research and Education Center

PEPPER (HOT): Capsicum annuum L. ‘Serrano'
Pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii Cano

Pepper weevil is a key pest of both pungent and mild peppers in the southern U.S. as well as Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean. Control alternatives are needed because all stages but the adult are safe from insecticide inside the pepper fruit. This trial consisted of greenhouse-raised pepper plants transplanted on 6 Mar at 10 inch spacing in single rows on 2 sets of 3 plastic mulched beds which were 240 ft long and fertigated through Netafim™ drip tape with 12 inch emitter spacing. The center bed in each set of 3 was left untreated to serve as a source of innoculum. Each treated bed was divided into plots 48 ft long to which 5 treatments were assigned in an RCB design with 4 replications. The Vydate and Cryolite treatments were applied weekly for 9 weeks beginning 19 Apr. The 3 oz/acre Actara treatment was applied 4 times on 19 Apr, 12, 24 May and 8 Jun. The 4 oz/acre Actara treatment was applied 3 times on 19 Apr, 12 May and 2 Jun. Treatments were applied with a high clearance sprayer operating at 200 psi with two vertical booms, each fitted with ceramic "yellow" Albuz tm hollow cone nozzles delivering 44 gpa with 2 nozzles per boom for the first spray 19 Apr. An additional nozzle was added to each boom for subsequent sprays giving an output of 66 gpa. Six adult weevils were found in the course of a pre-treatment count made 19 Apr from 60 randomly selected plants across the trial area. Fallen fruit was collected from both sides of 12 plants per plot on 16 and 24 May and 2, 7, 14 and 19 Jun to monitor weevil pressure. On 20 Jun, all fruit 1 inch or more in length was harvested and weighed from the same 12 plants/plot monitored for dropped fruit. Average fruit weight was determined by weighing 3 samples of 100 peppers from each from each plot. Percent damage was determined by dissecting a sample of 100 of the peppers from each plot.

All treatments reduced the number of dropped fruit compared to the control over 6 weekly samples beginning 16 May. Fewer dropped fruit were observed from plants treated with Cryolite 96 or Actara at either rate compared to the grower standard Vydate on the last 3 or 4 sample dates respectively. Total fruit weight was greatest from plants treated 3 times with 4 oz Actara or with Vydate although not significantly different from the 3 oz rate sprayed 4 times. Percentage of infested fruit was higher for all treatments compared to control with no differences between sprayed treatments. Multiplying these two factors together we saw again no differences among sprayed treatments in weight of uninfested fruit. Mean fruit weight was greatest with the 3 oz treatment of Actara sprayed 4 times but not significantly so compared to Actara sprayed 3 times at 4 oz or 9 applications of Cryolite.

Treatment/ formulation	Rate amt form/ acre	Mean daily fruit dropped per plot of 12 plants						Over all Dates
Treatment/ formulation	Rate amt form/ acre	16 May	24 May	2 Jun	7 Jun	14 Jun	19 Jun	Over all Dates
Actara 25 WG	3 oz	0.05a	0.73b	3.62b	7.82c	9.04c	8.90c	5.03c
Actara 25 WG	4 oz	0.03a	0.54b	5.31b	21.42b	7.27c	11.50c	7.68c
Cryolite 96	10 lbs	0.01a	0.76b	2.79b	7.46c	9.51c	12.26c	5.47c
Vydate 2 L	2 qt	0.05a	1.76b	7.99b	24.02b	18.83b	23.18b	12.64b
Untreated check		0.04a	4.14a	18.22a	52.96a	37.49a	40.96a	25.64a
Means in columns followed by the same letter are not significantly different (LSD, P < 0.05).

Treatment/ Formulation	Rate amt form/acre	Fruit harvested from 12 plants per plot
Treatment/ Formulation	Rate amt form/acre	Total Fruit (lb)	Infested Fruit (%)^a	Uninfested Fruit (lb)	Mean Wt /100 Fruit
Actara 25 WG	3 oz	15.6 ab	7.5b	14.7a	0.87 a
Actara 25 WG	4 oz	16.2 a	9.3b	14.4a	0.83 ab
Cryolite 96	10 lb	11.9 b	12.0b	11.1a	0.82abc
Vydate 2 L	2 qt	14.3a	7.3b	12.6a	0.75 c
Untreated check		4.2 c	33.3a	2.8b	0.78 bc
Means in columns followed by the same letter are not significantly different (LSD, P < 0.05). ^{aPercent of 100 fruit per plot with weevil larva inside}

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