The Biology, Parasitism, and Population Sampling of the Plum Curculio on Blueberry in North Carolina1

Hosts of Plum Curculio,Conotrachelus nenuphar(Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in Central Georgia

“…5). These Vaccinium species are all ßeshy enough to serve as suitable hosts for C. nenuphar larvae, but in our surveys were not widely used as a host by plum curculio, despite the fact that V. corymbosum is reported as a regular host of plum curculio in both New Jersey and North Carolina (Beckwith 1943, Mampe and Neunzig 1967, Polavarapu et al 2004.…”

“…Throughout its habitat, plum curculio uses a broad range of hosts, including plants in the Rosaceae (Quaintance andJenne 1912, Maier 1990) and in the Ericaceae (Stearns 1931, Mampe and Neunzig 1967, Polavarapu et al 2004. Prunus angustifolia Marshall (Chickasaw plum), a thicket-forming species that occurs frequently on Þeld or woodline edges, is the predominant native plum species in central Georgia and is believed to be the primary host for the overwintering generation of plum curculio.…”

Trapping Plum CurculioConotrachelus nenuphar(Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in the Southern United States

“…This was supported by the data only in a few cases. For example, in the weed free treatments, fewer arthropods and higher emergence of plum curculio were recorded, suggesting some contribution of these arthropods as predators of immature plum curculio (Mampe & Neunzig 1967;Jenkins et al 2006).…”

“…December 2012 an integrated pest management program against the plum curculio (Mampe & Neunzig 1967;Jenkins et al 2006). A better understanding of the mechanisms mediating our results is necessary and worthy of further investigation.…”

“…Data were also collected on the abundance of other arthropods such as ground beetles (Carabidae), tiger beetles (Cicindelidae), ants (Formicidae) and spiders as these arthropods have been reported to prey on soil dwelling stages of plum curculio (Mampe & Neunzig 1967;Jenkins et al 2006).Ultimately, we hope to identify and recommend to commercial peach growers weed management practices which will be unfavorable to the development of the plum curculio while having minimal impact on tree growth and fruit yield.…”