Abundance, Harmfulness, and Control of Pea Leaf Weevil in Broad Beans (Vicia faba Linn.)

Mohammad Almogdad,Roma Semaškienė

doi:10.3390/agriculture12030394

Mohammad Almogdad, Roma Semaškienė

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture12030394

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Abstract

A field experiment was carried out on broad beans (Vicia faba L.) to investigate the abundance of the pea leaf weevil (Sitona lineatus L.), as influenced by the timing of pest control, using insecticides. The study was conducted in broad bean var. ‘Vertigo’, during the period 2019–2020. The study included six spray regimes, as well as an untreated control. Yellow water traps were used to monitor the occurrence of the pea leaf weevil from the start of germination until harvest. Pea leaf weevil abundance was observed over the growing season. The adult density showed two peaks at two plant phenology stages, at flowering and before harvest (BBCH 89). The amount of damaged root nodules by this pest ranged from 41 to 59%. Data from two years of study suggest that S. lineatus infestation does not result in a seed yield reduction. Spray regimes did not impact larval density. Applying foliar insecticides at the local threshold can be recommended as an effective method to protect broad beans from feeding by pea leaf weevils.

Highlights

Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important crop, as green manure, and as feed and food with a high protein content [1]
Between 10 May and 12 June, 267 S. lineatus weevils were recorded during trap observations, and during this period, the highest daily average temperature was on 12 June, at 26.4 ◦ C
On 3 June, six leaves of broad bean plants were unfolded (BBCH 16 growth stage), and the largest numbers of S. lineatus weevils were recorded in traps (130 weevils)

Summary

Introduction

Broad bean (Vicia faba L.) is an important crop, as green manure, and as feed and food with a high protein content [1]. In 2020, the total grown area of V. faba in Lithuania increased to 58.3 thousand ha, with an average yield of 3.75 t ha−1 , compared to 3000 ha in 2010 [2]. The pea leaf weevil (Sitona lineatus Linnaeus, 1758) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a legume-destroying pest, and the severity of its damage is largely determined by the season. In the last three decades, the average air temperature in Lithuania has risen rapidly, so the day-degrees necessary for S. lineatus have changed [3]. S. lineatus causes persistent problems in V. faba, affecting both harvest quantity and seed quality [4,5]. It is a significant pest of V. faba in most temperate regions, including Europe and North

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