Longevity, Puncturing of Nuts, and Ovipositional Activities by the Pecan Weevil on Three Cultivars of Pecans123

Abstract

Laboratory investigations were conducted to measure seasonal longevity and the effect of nut maturity on the puncturing of nuts and oviposition activities of Curculio caryae (Horn). Females lived longer than males, and pecan weevils that emerged early in the season lived longer than those that emerged at later dates. Weevils punctured nuts in the water stage of different cultivars at ca. the same rate in early as in late season. The weevils punctured nuts and oviposited on the early maturing cultivar earlier than on the late maturing cultivars. The average preovipositional period was 6.5 days.