College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Pecan Weevil The Hidden Menace Dr. Carol Sutherland, Extension Entomologist, NMSU & State Entomologist, NM Dept. Agriculture About the College: The College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences is an engine for economic and community development in New Mexico, improving the lives of New Mexicans through academic, research, and extension programs.
Where We re Going in 20 Minutes What Is Pecan Weevil? Life Cycle Damage Done Pecan Weevil Occurence in U.S., NM, TX Regulatory Actions & Recent Hearings, NM Things to Ponder
Pecan Weevil Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Curculio (Nut & Acorn Weevils) Curculio caryae (Horn, 1873): Pecan Weevil Other Known Hosts: Hickory, Persian Walnut Male, lateral <1/2 ; same color as tree bark; Rarely seen Female, lateral & dorsal
Life Cycle: Pecan Weevil Eggs: abt. 5-7 days Clemson Univ., USDA-CES,bugwood.org Larvae: abt. 30 days Louis Tedders, USDA-ARS, bugwood.org Complete Metamorphosis Adults: < 2 months Mulder & Grantham, OKStateUniv. JA Payne, USDA-ARS, bugwood.org Est. 90% of Immatures remain in soil-1-2 yrs *** 10% emerge of immature emerge from soil-2-3 yrs. (TAMU vs OK State) Pupa: <12 to >24 deep in soil Louis Tedders, USDA-ARS, bugwood.org
Damage by Pecan Weevils, Pt. 1 JA Payne, USDA-ARS, bugwood.org JJ Hamann, Univ.Fed.de Sta Maria Emerging female adults probe during water stage ; adds to August drop losses; may not see scratch marks on shuck Females probing dough-stage nuts (bitter taste, spots)
Damage by Pecan Weevils, Pt. 2 HC Ellis UGa MMmmm-pecan roll candy Bill Ree, TAMU & food safety/purity concerns
Evidence of Pecan Weevil Infestation BB holes in shucks,shells; black interior; grubs Meat chewed; inside of nut black, no silk JAPayne, USDA-ARS
Holes in Nuts NOT from PW PNCB = irregular, silk Bird Pecks = IMPACT!
Pecan Weevil Grub vs Caterpillar PW Grub NO LEGS! Pillar LEGS!
Scouting for Pecan Weevil? Burlap band Circle trap (best?) Attractant? HC Ellis Uga W Reid,ret.Univ.Kansas Ag.Bio. Good luck with any of the above Walking the Orchard?
?? Pecan Weevil Distribution (US-Commercial Pecans)?? 14 hickory spp.occur in North America; 13 can host PW Bill Ree, TAMU, Pecan South, 2017 Various sources, hickory
Pecan Weevil: History in NM Tularosa, Otero Co. *Late 1960s-erad. #1998-erad. Vado, Dona Ana Co. #1999-erad. Deming, Luna Co. *2000-erad. # Currently Curry Chaves Lea Eddy yard trees orchard * # Eradication: Sevin trts.-6 = commercial pecan acreage yrs from water stage to shuck split; all nuts+trash frozen, 168hr, 0F.
Pecan Weevil Detections New Mexico, Sept. 2017 Pecan South, IPM Report Bill Ree, TAMU (Google Earth) NM +ROSWELL +CLOVIS TX Known to be Infested w/pw +LUBBOCK +LOVINGTON +HOBBS +CARLSBAD
How Could PWs Get Into NM??? Beetles likely cannot fly THAT far Birds (crows) moving nuts? or Moving (nut-bearing) nursery stock w/soil Used/contaminated harvest equipment Mobile pecan buyers & accumulators criss-crossing infested/non-infested areas.and maybe.
How Would Pecan Weevils Get Into New Mexico? Gifts from friends & relatives (e.g. Gram & Gramps or Aunt Margaret & Uncle John)
Emergency Actions---2016-2017 During 2016-2017 harvest, NMDA (scoping actions): inspected commercial pecans in Lea, Eddy, Chaves Cos. (some orchards show no evidence of PW) - set up mobile nut inspection stations for backyard growers in each community -identified nut buyers/accumulators---mobile & fixed locations; inspected nuts purchased by each of these For this harvest, 180-day Emergency Interior Quarantine for 4 counties; nuts shipped east to TX processors (rare exceptions)
Next? 2018 NM Legislature---NMDA sought authority to regulate/license pecan buyers & accumulators; bill PASSED. NMDA writes draft regulations for interior quarantine AND for licensing buyers & accumulators Public hearings on both conducted, August, 2018 Final versions NMSU Regents
Further Information? Search on-line---- NMSU Cooperative Extension Service Publications Pecan Weevil in the search engine --or Circular 683
Things to Ponder (Recent NMDA hearing)---nearly 200 sites in 4 counties of NM were PW positive Nearly all of these sites are yard trees --- urban & suburban yards, landscape trees ONE PERSON/200??? Asked How do I get rid of those little white worms in my nuts?
Christmas, 2017; Alpine, TX How do I get rid of little white worms in my nuts?
EEEEUwwwww!!! Emily Fricke, NMDA Grubs in a 5-gallon bucket, Clovis