First Report of Damage by the Sugarcane Root WeevilDiaprepes abbreviatus(Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Florida Sugarcane

Abstract

The weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) occurs naturally in the Lesser and Greater Antilles where it is considered an important pest of sugar cane and citrus, particularly in Barbados and Pu erto Rico (Woodruff 1968). Woodruff (1968) pre sents a review of D. abbreviatus with respect to geographical distribution, biology, damage (em phasizing citrus) and control. The importance of the weevil as a pest of sugarcane is evidenced by common use in early literature of the following name for the weevil: the sugarcane rootstock borer weevil. D. abbreviatus was first reported in Florida during 1964 in citrus near the town of Ap opka (Schroeder & Jones 1983). An eradication ef fort was made, but the weevil was rediscovered in this area during 1968. The weevil has subse quently spread across Florida, although second ary introductions from the Caribbean may have occurred. Regarded to be a poor flier, the spread of the weevil is usually attributed to the movement of infested ornamental plants. Larvae and adults are highly polyphagous (Simpson et al. 1996), al though cane and citrus have been shown to sup port larval development better than any of 71 other plant species (Schroeder et al. 1979). The presence and spread of the weevil in Flor ida during the 1970s and 1980s alarmed the sugar industry. By 1981, 61,700 acres (24,978 ha) had been quarantined for the weevil across a number of counties, yet at that time the weevil had not been found attacking sugarcane in the Everglades Agricultural Area where most sugar cane is grown. D. abbreviatus was found in South Bay during 1992, Moore Haven during 1993, and in Canal Point during 1995 (all in ornamental plant nurseries), placing known infestations within the heart of the sugar production area. United States Sugar Corporation, one company particularly concerned about the weevil, moni tored sugarcane in the vicinity of these three towns for infestations of the weevil during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Adult weevils were sometimes found in the vicinity of commercial sugarcane in association with weeds such as hemp sesbania (Sesbania macrocarpa Muhl.), sickle pod (Cassia obtusifolia L.), pigeon pea (Ca janus cajan (L.) Millsp.), Brazilian peppertree (.Schinus terbinthifolius Radd.), and other plants growing in or near cane fields, but no larval infes tations or signs of damage to cane by the weevil were found (Hall, personal communication). In Feb 2010, Ron Cherry was contacted by ex tension specialist Les Baucum concerning a po tential grub problem in commercial sugarcane fields. These fields were located ca. 5 km south of