A recent assessment of the needs of the nursery industry identified black vine weevil as one of the most important insect pest in nurseries. Identifying factors that lead to pest outbreaks in highly managed systems will assist in determining management practices that prevent outbreaks. Few studies have examined the effect of nutrient or water stress on root feeding herbivores. Research in this proposal examined the effect of nitrogen and water stress on the growth and quality of container grown Heuchera “Palace Purple”, as it related to the population dynamics of a root feeding herbivore, the black vine weevil. Studies found that black vine weevil adults feeding on plants fertilized at high nitrogen rates (150 mg / week) were more fecund than adults feeding on plants fertilized at lower nitrogen rates (25 and 75 mg / week) when plants were not water stressed. When plants were water stressed, nitrogen rate did not affect black vine weevil fecundity. In addition, nitrogen rate and water stress did not effect adult feeding preference. These studies provide scientific information as the basis for recommending cultural practices aimed at reducing black vine weevil outbreaks in nurseries.
Species 1: Coleoptera Curculionidae Otiorhynchus sulcatus (black vine weevil)
Keywords: cultural control, water regime
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