Lure-and-kill technology to manage pests ( lineatus and rufimanus) of field beans and peas

Pea and bean can be a problem in combining, vining or fresh market peas, broad beans and field beans. Damage Leaf caused by the adult is visible as notching around the leaf notching caused by margins, although this damage doesn’t usually significantly pea and bean affect yield. Loss of yield is caused by the larval stages weevil which feed in nitrogen-fixing root nodules of the plant.

Adult are beetle-like to test the efficacy of a novel biological control agent against in shape and 4-5mm in pea and bean weevils, with a secondary target for bruchid Larvae length. They are light beetle control. In addition, the project will look at more targeted feeding in grey to brown in colour use of conventional crop protection products. with faint striping along root nodules The work will be based on the use of the the length of the wing naturally occurring pathogen Beauveria Adult cases. They have a bassiana in targeted conditions. weevil short snout, but the Using the currently available weevil elbowed antennae pheromone, and plant volatiles typical of weevils. that were identified from bean Migration from over- floral aromas as the most wintering sites, mainly attractive for bruchid beetle, grassy, uncultivated will be attracted grass margins, occurs to traps and infected in early spring when with the killing maximum air temperature fungus, or a conventional exceeds 15°C. Newly pesticide. Conditions will be emerged spring grown crops maintained to avoid infection are most susceptible to damage, of beneficial insects. although in severe cases winter beans The project is co-funded can be affected by adults or larvae. by Innovate UK and the If leaf damage is seen, early treatment of the crop is necessary Biotechnology and to interrupt egg-laying and reduce root nodule damage. Biological Sciences Research Council, A monitoring system is available which detects adults when with additional support they begin migrating in the early spring, developed by from industry partners. Rothamsted Research, PGRO and ADAS. The system comprises The project started traps containing an aggregation pheromone lure that is highly in October 2014 and attractive to both sexes, and is used to aid spray application investigations will be decision-making. carried out over four years. In recent years growers have reported increased damage by these The aim of this new project Bruchid pests, despite chemical interventions. Whether damage is related is to provide effective and damage to increased pest pressure or ineffective controls is unknown. environmentally-friendly control and adult As a result of this feedback, PGRO, Rothamsted Research, Oecos, of both pea and and Exosect Ltd, Velcourt and BASF plc are undertaking further work bruchid beetle.