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Beginner

Scientific Names
Anthonomus eugenii

Identification

• Females lay eggs in small fruit, creating a small dimple as the fruit sizes
• Eggs are laid inside the fruit wall and are yellow in colour
• Larvae are legless, white to light grey coloured with a light brown head
• Larvae range anywhere from 1-4 mm long and are found inside of the fruit.
• Adult weevils can be black, dark brown or dark amber coloured and range from 2.5-4 mm in length
• Adults have white, yellow or grey hair-like scales covering the body, with a small concentration of white scales at the top of the elytra (wing covers)
• Adults exit the fruit by chewing a small hole through the flesh of the fruit
  

Often Confused With
Pepper Maggot

Period of Activity
Field populations may occur from planting through to postharvest. Scouting should be from May - October as the pest can occur at any time.

Scouting Notes
The presence of adults can be monitored with yellow sticky traps baited with a two-component pheromone lure. Visual scouting for dimples in fruit, prematurely dropped fruit or fruits with a yellowed calyx, feeding damage on buds and flowers, and adults is also recommended.

Thresholds
One weevil on a trap or observed in the crop indicates management is needed.
There is no tolerance for the pest from fresh market or processors.

Advanced

Scientific Names
Anthonomus eugenii

Identification
Eggs

• Females lay eggs in small fruit, creating a small dimple as the fruit sizes
• Females prefer fruit <3cm in diameter, but will lay eggs in larger fruit depending on crop stage and population pressure
• Eggs are laid inside the fruit wall and are yellow in colour
  

Larva

• Larvae are legless, white to light grey coloured with a light brown head
• Larvae range anywhere from 1-4 mm long and are found inside of fruit

Pupa

• Pupation occurs within the pepper. Pupae are white/yellow in colour and can be distinguished between larvae by the formation of the snout

Adults

• Adult weevils can be black, dark brown or dark amber coloured
• Range from 2.5-4 mm in length
• Adults have white, yellow or grey hair-like scales covering the body, with a small concentration of white scales at the top of the elytra
• Adults exit the fruit by chewing a small hole through the flesh of the fruit

Damage

• Larvae feed on the internal tissue and seeds of the fruit, which is off-putting to consumers
• Adults exit the fruit by chewing a small hole through the flesh of the pepper, rendering it unmarketable
• Adult feeding damage can be found on buds, flowers and sometimes foliage

Often Confused With
Pepper Maggot
Native weevils (strawberry bud weevil (Anthonomus signatus, Ceutorhynchus typhae, etc.)

Biology
Outdoor overwintering populations are not yet known to occur in Ontario..

Both males and females feed on fruits, flowers and foliage, however feeding damage is not significant. Females lay their eggs into fruits, preferably young fruits, buds, and occasionally flowers, and usually deposit one egg per fruit. A single mated female can lay up to 600 eggs in her lifetime with an average of 341 eggs. Eggs hatch into larvae which begin feeding through the interior flesh and seeds of the fruit. The internal feeding usually results in yellowing of the calyx and/or premature fruit drop. Larvae go through 3 instars before pupating. After pupating, adults emerge from the peppers by chewing a circular hole through the flesh of the pepper. Pepper fruit may also start to rot around the egg-laying scar or exit hole.

A typically life cycle can occur between 20 and 30 days, dependent on temperature. Adults are long lived (> one month) and create multiple and overlapping generations.

Period of Activity
Field populations may occur from planting through to postharvest. Scouting should be from May - October as the pest can occur at any time. Peak activity is generally in late August and September, depending on weather.

Scouting Notes
Monitor for adults using pheromone traps (yellow sticky cards with pheromone caps).

• Pheromone traps should be used 2 weeks prior to bud break
• Traps should be placed at a rate of 1/ha
• Check traps at least twice per week and replaced every two (2) weeks
  • Sticky cards may need to be replaced more frequently if they are littered with debris or other insects
• Place traps around the perimeter of the fields and in high traffic areas
  • It may also be beneficial to place traps in more attractive pepper varieties like jalapenos, hot cherry, etc.
• Try to choose trap locations that are easy to reach in all weather conditions
• Traps should also be placed at plant height to intercept incoming adults
  
  Traps should be a minimum of 9m (30 ft) away other pepper weevil pheromone traps. Inspect fruit for egg laying 'dimples', yellow calyx and exit holes. Also inspect fruit on the ground for yellow calyx and exit holes, and break open to look for eggs, larva, pupa and feeding damage.
  Adults may also be found by gently shaking plants onto a light colour surface or tray.
  

Thresholds
One weevil on a trap or observed in the crop requires management.
There is no tolerance for the pest from fresh market or processors.

Management Notes

• Early detection of weevils is key to successful management
• Chemical control measures target adult weevils only
• Timely and regular application of registered pesticides is required once pepper weevil is detected in the crop
• Pepper weevil can also complete their lifecycle on other crop (i.e. eggplant) and weed (i.e. nightshade) species
• Disc or plow under pepper plants and fruit remaining in the field after harvest is completed
• Cull pile management is required to prevent the emergence of new adults from infested fruits
• Management of nightshade in and around neighbouring fields
  
  Visit the OMAFRA website or the Pest Management Regulatory Agency website to determine which insecticides are registered for pepper weevil in Ontario.