Abstract

Walnut is one of the most important fruits, which has been defined as a "Superfood" in recent years. It is infected by a wide array of insect pests. Among these pests, the walnut weevil is a destructive one. Its adults feed on flowers and buds while its larvae feed inside the fruits and are extremely destructive in causing premature dropping. We report two generations of walnut weevil in a year and only a single larva per fruit. Adults emerge from the soil in April and feed on walnut leaf buds, petioles of leaves, and floral buds. Adult females lay 1-2 eggs on fruits, mainly in May and early June, hatch in 4.9±0.74 (SD) days and 4.5±0.97 days in the first and second generations. They develop through three instars and the total developmental time lies in the range of 46-55 days (49.1±2.51). The adults of the second generation undergo overwintering to avoid harsh environmental conditions. Comprehension of biology, life cycles, and the nature of damage aids in keeping track of specific insect pests at the proper time.

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