PAST AND CURRENT IPM STRATEGIES TO COMBAT THE SPREAD OF DIAPREPES ABBREVIATUS (L.) IN FLORIDA CITRUS

Abstract

During the past 30 years, the West Indian sugarcane roolstalk borer weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus (L.) has spread from its original site of introduction to 15 counties throughout the Florida citrus industry where it is considered a major long-term threat. Approximately 25,000 acres of citrus have confirmed infestations of the weevil. Most of the infested acreage is exhibiting severe decline or is out of production. Currently, control methods for the larv ae are limited and chemical control for the adults appears to be only partially effective in severely infested groves and threatens current IPM strategies. At this time, biological controls have had limited success.