Anthonomus eugenii - a new glasshouse pest in Canada
A new pest of glasshouse capsicums has been discovered in Canada. In British Columbia the pepper weevil Anthonomus eugenii, indigenous to northern Mexico and southern USA, was found infesting glasshouse capsicumsin one establishment causing severe damage. About 70% of the capsicumsin the glasshouse had to be culled and destroyed with an estimated value of 400 000,- CAD. The application of permethrin suppressed the weevil population within 8 weeks to less than 1%. ;A side effect of this treatment was, however, the collapse of the biological control strategy against Myzus persicae and Tetranynchus urticae.
The introduction of the pest into the glasshouse was thought to have been caused by wooden palettes which move throughout the region. A previous finding of A. eugenii in a retail outlet in 1990 was assumed to be the source of the introduction. But also overwintering hosts from southern USA and northern Mexico whose fruits might have been traded within the region are not excluded as the source of introduction.
This item has been available in INFOEPPO since 1993-05-21!
Sources
Costello, R.A.; Gillespie, D.R. (1993) The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano as a greenhouse pest in Canada.
IOBC/WPRS Bulletin 16 (2), 31-34.