Pecan Nut Casebearer: Damage Assessment, Seasonal Emergence of Spring Brood Moths, and Potential of Blacklight Traps in a Pest Management Program 1

Abstract

For 3 yr, blacklight traps were used to monitor the emergence of spring brood pecan nut casebearer moths, Acrobasis nuxvorella Neunzig, at 7 locations in Louisiana. Moth activity varied from year to year at the same location and from location to location within the same year. Seasonal abundance varied greatly among locations with larger populations present in orchards along the Red River Valley compared to orchards in the Mississippi Delta and Ouachita Valley - Macon Ridge Area of the state. For 4 seasons, studies were conducted to assess the damage due to 1st generation pecan nut casebearer. At Monroe and Chopin, orchards characterized by little moth activity, casebearer damage was virtually non-existant; however, at Shreveport, where moth activity was the greatest, annual avg damage ranged from 10–28% infested nut clusters. As a result of these investigations, it appears that BL traps have the potential to be an effective tool in management of 1st generation pecan nut casebearer. Trap data were instrumental in a grower eliminating control applications for the pest the past 3 seasons. With further study, the traps may prove to be effective as a monitoring device to properly time insecticide applications in areas where casebearer continues to be an annual problem.