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Abstract

The mango weevil is now established in the U.S. Virgin Islands. In 2012, I started sampling for a mango grower in St. Croix who had been struggling with mango weevil infestations for more than 10 years, but had not implemented any controls. Throughout the 2012 harvest season, we gathered 348/505 fruits (68.9%) with weevil infestation in the seed, and 13/305 fruits (4.3%) with weevil infestation in the pulp. In 2013, we initiated an IPM program with trunk sprays (malathion + oil), canopy sprays (carbaryl), and sanitation (rapid removal and destruction of dropped fruits). We gathered 110/606 fruits (18.2%) with weevil infestation in the seed, and 3/606 fruits (0.5%) with weevil infestation in the pulp. However, the majority of infested fruits (105/410, 25.6%) was collected during June and September, and was likely a result of late initiation and early elimination of controls. We found only 5/196 fruits (2.6%) with weevil infestation in the seed, and no infestations in pulp, during sampling of fruits harvested in July and August. In 2014, we plan to continue with trunk sprays and sanitation, but replace canopy sprays with a soil application of a systemic neonicotinoid. We hope our efforts will eventually yield effective conventional and organic integrated pest management (IPM) programs that will work for large and small mango orchards and residential plots.

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