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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Corvallis, Oregon » Horticultural Crops Research Unit » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #164189
Title: A TECHNIQUE FOR CONTINUOUS MASS REARING OF BLACK VINE WEEVIL, OTIORHYNCHUS SULCATUS F. (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE)

Author
item FISHER, JAMES
item BRUCK, DENNY

Submitted to: Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/29/2004
Publication Date: 10/1/2004
Citation: Fisher, J.R., Bruck, D.J. 2004. A technique for continuous mass rearing of black vine weevil, otiorhynchus sulcatus f. (coleoptera: curculionidae). Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata. 11(1)p.71-75.

Interpretive Summary: The black vine weevil has been a pest of nursery and small fruit crops in the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Northeast areas of North America and in Europe for more than 100 years. These insects feed on plant roots, thereby reducing growth and causing plant death. The resulting costs to nursery and small fruit growers in the state of Oregon are estimated to exceed $3 million per year. It is nearly impossible for pest control researchers to obtain enough damaging grubs or adult weevils to conduct proper tests with chemical, biological, or chemical controls. As a result, researchers have been unable to provide workable solutions for control of this pest. This paper describes a technique that produces over 2500 black vine weevil grubs, eggs, and adult weevils weekly for use in experiments. This the first record of continuous mass rearing of this pest.

Technical Abstract: The black vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, has been a pest of nursery and small fruit crops in the Pacific Northwest and Atlantic Northeast areas of North America and in Europe for more than 100 years. Damage is caused primarily by larvae feeding on the roots of perennial small fruits or woody ornamentals and is usually indicated by poor growth or dying plants. In Oregon, economic costs associated with losses and management have been estimated to exceed 3 million dollars per year. The researcher's inability to obtain enough larvae of distinct, known ages for studies has thwarted the development of chemical, biological, or cultural control strategies. This paper provides a technique and diet for mass rearing of O. sulcatus. Previous attempts at developing a diet for mass rearing were unsuccessful. One diet, a precursor to the one described here, was used for a few generations with a survival rate of less than 15% (egg - adult weevil). Whereas, with this improved method, survival rates were greater than 40% (egg - adult weevil). These techniques provide over 2500 larvae, eggs, and adult weevils weekly and allow researchers to conduct timely studies on biological, chemical, and cultural control of this pest. This is the first record of continuous mass rearing of this pest.