Management of pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) using non-host repellent plants

Pepper, Capsicum annuum L. is an important crop in Florida and several other states in the southern region of the United States. Pepper weevil is the most harmful insect pest of pepper in Florida and other tropical and subtropical regions of North, Central and South America. The use of broad-spectrum insecticides is the major management tool for pepper weevil control, and their continuous use has led to the development of resistance and elimination of natural enemies. Therefore, alternative approaches are needed for effective control. Studies were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of intercropping non-host and insect repellent plants (basil, marigold, cabbage and cilantro) with jalapeño peppers on pepper weevil population. The four non-hosts were considered as treatments plus an untreated control and a treatment where jalapeño pepper plants were treated with Actara, totaling six treatments. Parameters evaluated include the number of pepper weevil adults on plants, infested fallen fruits and marketable yield. Infested fruits collected from each treatment plot were dissected to evaluate pepper weevil (larvae, pupae, and adult) density.
In the present study, non-host plants did not suppress pepper weevil infestation on pepper. The Actara treated pepper plots resulted in higher marketable yield, lower number of infested jalapeño pepper fruits and pepper weevil adults. Further investigations including y-tube olfactometer bioassays are needed to be done to determine pepper weevil response to the repellent plants before field experiments are conducted. This information will provide insight into developing a sustainable approach for the management of pepper weevil.