Biology, Distribution, and Taxonomy of Billbug Turf Pests (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Johnson‐Cicalese, Jennifer; Wolfe, G. W.; Funk, C. R.

doi:10.1093/ee/19.4.1037

Cited by 32 publications

(28 citation statements)

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“…Fecundity was greatest in March at LaGorce Country Club (F ϭ 5.03; df ϭ 10, 233; P Ͻ 0.0001) and in October at Gainesville Country Club (F ϭ 2.88; df ϭ 11, 654; P ϭ 0.0011) and was slightly lower during the summer months. In contrast, S. v. vestitus had an oviposition period from spring to early September in New Jersey (Johnson-Cicalese et al 1990) and had mature ovaries from early April to October in Arkansas (Young 2002). It is possible that female S. v. vestitus in Gainesville could produce more eggs because of the lower population density, greater species diversity, and lower competition, whereas females in southern Florida may need to lay fewer eggs given the greater population size, reduced species diversity, and greater competition.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, this may be an overestimate if billbug development slows during cooler outdoor winter temperatures or because of lower turf or soil quality in areas around the state or at different times of year. In the northern United States, S. v. vestitus reportedly is univoltine (Tashiro 1987), with a partial second generation in New Jersey (Johnson-Cicalese et al 1990). Adults overwinter, the population increases in the spring, declines in the summer, and a smaller population increases in the fall and decreases again in winter (JohnsonCicalese et al 1990, Young 2002.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Little is currently known about the biology and management of this pest or a potential complex of billbugs. S. v. vestitus has a broad geographic range in North America (Johnson-Cicalese et al 1990) and is univoltine in the northern states, but it has been speculated that several overlapping generations occur along the Gulf states (Potter 1998). Turfgrass managers have been struggling with outbreaks of billbugs in Florida, with repeated insecticide applications against both larvae and adults, with limited success (E.B., personal observation).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To sample, traps were cleaned in the morning, sand was added to the bottom of the 4-liter bucket, and any billbugs caught during the following 24-h were collected and preserved in 70% ethanol. Billbug adults were identiÞed to species (Vaurie 1951, Johnson-Cicalese et al 1990, and their abundance and gender were determined for each sampling date. Weather conditions for each sampling period were recorded.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The sex ratio of all samples combined was 1.9:1 (males:females). Although several S. inaequalis occurred in the summer in New Jersey, the population was more abundant in spring and autumn(Johnson-Cicalese et al 1990). Despite it having nearly equal pest status with three other Sphenophorus spp.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Composition, Abundance, Seasonal Activity, and Developmental Time in Florida

Huang

Buss

2009

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Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Sphenophorus spp.) are common pests whose damage is often misdiagnosed on turfgrass in the United States. Consequently, Florida turfgrass managers have been struggling to satisfactorily control billbug outbreaks. Thus, we sought to determine the species complex, abundance, seasonality, and fecundity of key Sphenophorus spp. from field collections, and quantify duration of developmental and daily activity periods through greenhouse rearing tests. From January 2006 to December 2007, > 18,000 adults of 10 different Sphenophorus spp. were collected from four linear pitfall traps on each of two golf courses in north central and two courses in southern Florida. Sphenophorus venatus vestitus Chittenden was the most abundant species, making up > 94% of all specimens collected from three of the four golf courses (80.9% of all specimens collected). Adults were active and mature eggs were present in female ovaries nearly every week of the year. Adults were nocturnal. S. v. vestitus development from egg to adult can occur in 8-9 wk on 'Tifway' bermudagrass [Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.] or 'Empire' zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.), with up to six overlapping generations per year, depending on environmental conditions. Thus, any time of year could be suitable to target either adults or larvae, and a repeated application may be needed to manage subsequently emerged larvae or eclosed adults.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Composition, Abundance, Seasonal Activity, and Developmental Time in Florida

Huang

Buss

2009

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Plant–arthropod interactions of an endangered California lupine

Motta

Luong

Seltmann

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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The reintroduction of endangered plant species is an essential conservation tool. Reintroductions can fail to create resilient, self‐sustaining populations due to a poor understanding of environmental factors that limit or promote plant success. Biotic factors, specifically plant–arthropod interactions, have been shown to affect the establishment of endangered plant populations. Lupinus nipomensis (Nipomo Mesa lupine) is a state of California (California Rare Plant Rank: 1B.1) and federally (65 FR 14888) endangered endemic plant with only one extant population located along the central California coast. How arthropods positively or negatively interact with L. nipomensis is not well known and more information could aid conservation efforts. We conducted arthropod surveys of the entire L. nipomensis extant population in spring 2017. Observed arthropods present on L. nipomensis included 17 families, with a majority of individuals belonging to Thripidae. We did not detect any obvious pollinators of L. nipomensis, providing support for previous studies suggesting this lupine is capable of self‐pollinating, and observed several arthropod genera that could potentially impact the reproductive success of L. nipomensis via incidental pollination or plant predation.

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Volatile and Contact Chemical Cues Associated with Host and Mate Recognition Behavior of Sphenophorus venatus and Sphenophorus parvulus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

et al. 2018

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Beetles in the genus Sphenophorus Schönherr, or billbugs, potentially utilize both volatile and non-volatile behavior-modifying chemical signals. These insects are widely distributed across North America, often occurring in multi-species assemblages in grasses. However, details about their host- and mate-finding behavior are poorly understood. This study tested the hypothesis that volatile organic compounds from host-plants and conspecifics direct the dispersal behavior of hunting billbug S. venatus Say. Further, we characterized the cuticular hydrocarbon profiles of two widespread pest species, S. venatus and bluegrass billbug S. parvulus Gyllenhaal, to assess the potential role of contact pheromones in mate-recognition. In Y-tube olfactometer bioassays, S. venatus males were attracted to a combination of conspecifics and Cynodon dactylon host-plant material, as well as C. dactylon plant material alone. S. venatus females were attracted to a combination of male conspecifics and host-plants but were also attracted to male conspecifics alone. Field evaluation of a putative male-produced aggregation pheromone, 2-methyl-4-octanol, identified from two congeners, S. levis Vaurie and S. incurrens Gyllenhaal, did not support the hypothesis that S. venatus and S. parvulus were also attracted to this compound. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of S. venatus and S. parvulus whole-body cuticular extracts indicated a series of hydrocarbons with qualitative and quantitative interspecific variation in addition to intraspecific quantitative variation between males and females. This study provides the first evidence that S. venatus orients toward host- and insect-derived volatile organic compounds and substantiates the presence of species-specific cuticular hydrocarbons that could serve as contact pheromones for sympatric Sphenophorus species.

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Biology, Distribution, and Taxonomy of Billbug Turf Pests (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

Billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Composition, Abundance, Seasonal Activity, and Developmental Time in Florida

Billbug (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Species Composition, Abundance, Seasonal Activity, and Developmental Time in Florida

Plant–arthropod interactions of an endangered California lupine

Volatile and Contact Chemical Cues Associated with Host and Mate Recognition Behavior of Sphenophorus venatus and Sphenophorus parvulus (Coleoptera: Dryophthoridae)

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