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Insect Of The Month - Pea Leaf Weevil

Sitonia lineatus
 
Crops Affected:
 
Succulent peas, field legumes (field peas, dry beans, fababeans)
 
Life Cycle:
  1. Adults overwinter in alfalfa or perennial crops
     
  2. Adults move into annual crops by flying (if temperatures are above 17°C) or by walking short distances
     
  3. Adults emerge in spring and females lay many eggs (1000+) near or sometimes on developing plants in May to June
     
  4. Adults feed leaf margins and seedling growing points
     
  5. Larvae move into the soil to feed on the nodules
     
  6. Larvae undergo 5 instars and then pupate in the soil
     
  7. New adults may emerge in summer and feed on any pulse crops that they can find before overwintering
     
  8. Typically there is only one generation per year
 
Symptoms:
 
  1. Adult feeding on leaf margins results in characteristic notched or scalloped appearance
     
  2. Larval feeding on root nodules would not be visible unless plants are pulled up
     
  3. Heavy infestations may result in severe defoliation and ragging of leaves
     
  4. Damage may have more impact on younger seedlings
     
  5. Plants that rely on nitrogen fixed within root nodules may be weakened
 
Source : Agriculture and Forestry

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