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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Poplarville, Mississippi » Southern Horticultural Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #168913
Title: BIOLOGY OF THE STRAWBERRY ROOTWORM, PARIA FRAGARIAE (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELIDAE) IN CONTAINERIZED AZALEAS

Author
item Boyd Jr, David
item HESSELEIN, CHARLES - AUBURN UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Southern Nursery Association Research Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/20/2004
Publication Date: 1/1/2005
Citation: Boyd Jr, D.W., Hesselein, C.P. 2005. Biology of the strawberry rootworm, paria fragariae (coleoptera: chrysomelidae) in containerized azaleas. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference vol.49: 200-202.

Interpretive Summary: The strawberry rootworm is a pest to containerized azaleas in production nurseries. We determine that the beetles spend the winter months in leaf litter and that they have four generations a year. This information will be used to give growers incentive to use better sanitation practices and to control this pest earlier in the season.

Technical Abstract: Strawberry rootworm adults' preference for leaf-litter debris on the ground, in the container, or in the foliage of the azalea was investigated. Also, the number of generations the beetle has along the Gulf coast was determined. Overwintering adults were found in higher numbers in two leaf-litter locations than in the foliage of the plants. Four generations of strawberry rootworms were collected during weekly and bi-weekly sampling. Removal of leaf litter during the winter months and early season control of the beetle will help reduce the population of adult beetles later in the season.