Influence of no‐tillage practices and later planting date on the pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus, in pea, Pisum sativum

Abstract

The pea leaf weevil, Sitona lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a periodic pest of pea, Pisum sativum L. (Fabaceae), in the Palouse region of northern Idaho and eastern Washington, USA. Previous work on‐station and in commercial pea fields showed initial adult weevil colonization was greater in conventional‐tillage than in no‐tillage fields. Increased surface residue of no‐tillage systems results in cooler soils with greater available moisture typically resulting in later planting dates for conventional‐tillage fields. Cereal residue, a characteristic of the region's no‐tillage systems, and planting date were investigated as potential inhibitors of adult pea leaf weevil colonization and feeding on peas via field experiments in 2005 and 2006. Plots without cereal residue and early‐planted plots had greater weevil abundance. Early‐planted peas had greater weevil feeding injury compared to late‐planted peas. The presence of cereal residue did not significantly impact injury levels. A laboratory choice‐test with peas grown in conventional‐tillage and no‐tillage fields indicated greater adult weevil feeding damage on conventional‐tillage‐grown peas. A separate laboratory choice‐test using peas planted 10 days apart demonstrated greater adult weevil feeding injury on early‐planted peas. However, adjusting for available leaf edge resulted in no differences between treatments in either choice test, indicating crop availability and plant apparency during peak weevil colonization rather than plant factors resulting from growing conditions likely explain greater injury on peas planted early and under conventional‐tillage in the field.

Lupin Root Weevils (Charagmus spp., Curculionidae: Sitonini), a Lupin Pest: A Review of Their Distribution, Biology, and Challenges in Integrated Pest Management

“…In this context, the sowing date also plays a role. If the pea leaves are available earlier, colonisation by pea weevils begins earlier [ 63 ]. The authors also demonstrated that cereal residues of the previous year’s crop inhibited the ability of the beetles to locate the host plants.…”

Insect‐plant interactions: host selection, herbivory, and plant resistance – an introduction

“…Joseph () is studying the effects of planting date, temperature, and moisture on feeding injury by the collembolan Protaphorura fimata (Gisin) (Collembola: Onychiuridae), a serious pest of lettuce in coastal California, USA. Studies by Hanavan & Bosque‐Pérez () with pea weevil, Sitona lineatus (L.) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), in conventional and no‐till peas suggest that lower weevil abundance in no‐till treatments is due to reduced plant apparency and crop availability during the peak colonization period.…”