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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #73814
Title: SUPPRESSION OF BOLL WEEVIL INFESTATIONS (COLEOPTERA: CURCULIONIDAE) OCCURRING ON FALLOW-SEASON COTTON IN SOUTHERN TEXAS BY AUGMENTATIVE RELEASES OF CATOLACCUS GRANDIS (HYMENOPTERA: PTEROMALIDAE)

Author
item Summy, Kenneth
item GREENBERG, SHOIL - TX AGRI EXPER STATION
item MORALES-RAMOS, JUAN - TX AGRI EXPER STATION

Submitted to: Biological Control
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/10/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Research was conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) of Texas to evaluate the feasibility of natural enemy augmentation as a means to suppress infestations of boll weevil occurring in stands of undestroyed cotton during the postharvest "fallow" season, which currently extends fro 1 September through 31 January. In each of five release sites, augmentative releases of the parasite Catolaccus grandis were accompanied by a rapid increase in parasitism, which served to destroy significant numbers of immature boll weevils that appear to have been predisposed to successfully overwinter. Parasite augmentation appears to have considerable potential as a means to suppress boll weevil reproduction during the postharvest period and should be particularly useful in cotton fields which prove to be difficult, if not impossible, to destroy prior to the 1 September stalk destruction deadline currently mandated for the LRGV region.

Technical Abstract: Augmentative releases of Catolaccus grandis (Burks) were conducted in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in an attempt to suppress infestations of boll weevil, Anthonomus grandis Boheman, occurring in stands of undestroyed cotton during the postharvest "fallow" season, which currently extends from 1 September through 31 January. In each of five release sites smonitored during the study period (October, 1994 - March 1995), augmentative releases of C. grandis were accompanied by an appreciable increase in the incidence of parasitized boll weevils (primarily third- stage larvae and pupae infesting abcised cotton squares) within a relatively brief time period. The relatively high incidence of host mortality caused by C. grandis in each release site was largely indispensible (i.e., would not have occurred in the absence of the parasite) and served to destroy significant numbers of immature boll weevils that appear to have been predisposed to successfully overwinter. The potential role of parasite augmentation in the management of the overwintering boll weevil population in southern Texas is discussed.