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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Byron, Georgia » Fruit and Tree Nut Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #170977
Title: Hosts of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: curculionidae) in Central Georgia

Author
item Jenkins, David
item Cottrell, Ted
item HORTON, DAN - UGA
item HODGES, AMANDA - UNIV OF FLORIDA
item HODGES, GREG - FL DEPT OF PLANT INDUSTRY

Submitted to: Environmental Entomology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/17/2005
Publication Date: 2/15/2006
Citation: Jenkins, D.A., Cottrell, T.E., Horton, D.L., Hodges, A., Hodges, G. 2006. Hosts of plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Coleoptera: curculionidae) in Central Georgia. Environmental Entomology. 35:48-55.

Interpretive Summary: We surveyed the host plants used by plum curculio, a serious pest of peach, in the peach producing region of central Georgia. Although previously reported to have a broad host range we conclude that plum curculio reproduction in this region is largely on fruit of peach and wild plums. Although various species of Mayhaw produce fruit, only one Mayhaw species was used by plum curculio. Fruit from apple and Asian pears, when available, are used for feeding and oviposition by plum curculio in central Georgia but larvae do not complete development within these fruit in this region. Various blueberry species are also available and were hypothesized to serve as hosts for larval plum curculio as occurs in mid-Atlantic states. However, we never detected plum curculio oviposition scars on blueberries nor did we ever collect mature larvae emerging from fruit of any blueberry species. Our results are compared to a previous survey conducted in the northeastern United States, as well as to hosts reported in the literature.

Technical Abstract: We surveyed the hosts used by plum curculio, Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), in the peach producing region of central Georgia. Although previously reported to have a broad host range we conclude that plum curculio largely limit themselves to peach (Prunus perisica) and plums (P. angustifolia and P. umbellata) in this region. Mayhaws, Crataegus aestivalis, are also used as hosts, but other species of Crataegus, though widely available, are not used at all. Apples (Malus domestica and M. angustifolia) and Asian pears (Pyrus pyrifolia), when available, are used for feeding and oviposition by plum curculio in central Georgia. However, larval emergence from these fruits was not recorded. Various blueberries (Vaccinium spp.) are also available and were hypothesized to serve as hosts for larval plum curculio as occurs in mid-Atlantic states. However, we never detected plum curculio oviposition scars on blueberries nor did we ever collect mature larvae emerging from fruit of any Vaccinium species. Our results are compared to a previous survey conducted in the northeastern United States, as well as to hosts reported in the literature.