Assessment of Anthonomus signatus (Say) in southeastern plasticulture strawberry production

Female strawberry bud weevils (Anthonomus signatus) have been documented ovipositing in developing flower buds in strawberries (Fragaria spp.), caneberries (Rubus spp.), and red bud (Cercis canadensis). Following oviposition, adult weevils will girdle or “clip” buds, preventing fruit development. This damage is of concern to commercial strawberry growers, but meaningful information on strawberry bud weevil impact and prevalence in annually grown, plasticulure strawberry production is lacking. Some varieties of strawberry grown in matted row perennial system have shown the ability to compensate for bud loss, so we assessed the effect of simulated bud removal at three different rates in the popular variety Camarosa. We further assessed strawberry bud weevil abundance and associated damage at ten commercial strawberry farms throughout North Carolina and two farms in Virginia.