Odontopus calceatus
 | This article, Odontopus calceatus, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
| This article, Odontopus calceatus, has recently been created via the Articles for creation process. Please check to see if the reviewer has accidentally left this template after accepting the draft and take appropriate action as necessary.
Reviewer tools: Inform author |
Common Name: Yellow-poplar Weevil Scientific Name: Odontopus calceatus
Authors: Hallie Harriman Department of Entomology, Virginia Tech
Other names: Sassafras mining weevil or Magnolia leaf miner
Identification: Yellow-poplar weevils are small black snout beetles and are tick-like in appearance. The adult weevil is about 1/10 inch long and black or dark brown in coloring. While most weevils are a solid color it has been noted that some southern populations exhibit yellow antenna, legs, and mouthparts.
Life History: There is one generation of this insect each year. Adults pass the winter months in surrounding leaf litter and become active throughout late April and early May. Before leaf buds on Yellow-poplar, Sassafras, or Magnolia trees open, weevils attack the buds and leave their distinctive feeding marks. It is during this feeding frenzy that mating takes place, generally throughout May and early June. The eggs are laid in the midrib on the underside of leaves. The female does this by puncturing the midrib with her snout and laying 1 to 3 eggs per site. There are generally four or five punctures at each oviposition site, resulting in 12 to 15 eggs per leaf. The eggs hatch in a few days to reveal legless, C-shaped grubs. Newly hatched larvae move from the midrib into the leaf where they feed as leaf miners for three to four weeks. Once they are ready to pupate, the grubs spin a spherical cocoon in one of the main mining halls they created as larvae. They remain in these cocoons until the second week of June where they then emerge as adults. The new adults then continue on their journey to eat yet more leaves until mid or late July. From this time onward, they generally disappear into new leaf litter to await the coming spring months.
Hosts: Yellow-poplar, Sassafras, Southern magnolia, and Sweetbay magnolia trees
Distribution: This pest is generally found east of the Mississippi River in all areas where its native hosts exist. It has been noted that its preferred host is Yellow-poplar. Historically, infestations are localized within natural hardwood forests and have rarely been considered a major threat. However, during the 1960’s, several outbreaks caused serious loss of foliage on Yellow-poplar populations in the Ohio River Valley and Appalachian Mountain regions. Recent concerns focus on young Yellow-poplar transplants that are placed in urban and suburban landscapes. Severe infestations in saplings could damage tree foliage, reduce their ornamental value, and possibly cause low survival rates.
Description of Damage: Adult weevils create brown, rice-sized feeding pits. They chew through the leaf epidermis, and if prolonged feeding continues can create small holes in the leaves. Large weevil infestations can also cause severe leaf browning. Weevil larvae are internal miners and will eat the midrib of the leaf as they mature. Mined leaves will eventually break if enough injury occurs. While these weevils do harm foliage they shouldn’t affect the overall health and longevity of established trees. They are often more of a nuisance than a serious problem and generally only create aesthetic harm.
Control: Most years, natural pests keep weevil populations in check - parasites sometimes destroy more than half the pupae populations. It has been noted that parasite control may fail every three to five years. Late frosts in the spring also contribute to weevil control by killing both adults and larvae. Nonetheless, there are some years when weevil populations boom. One cultural control suggests that weevils prefer Sassafras and Sweetbay magnolia as a breeding host, and so homeowners should avoiding planting these trees as under story plants if Yellow-poplar trees are present. There are also chemical controls available that can be used to eliminate adults and larvae. One should apply contact or stomach insecticides as soon as the first adult feeding spots are noticed on host leaves. A general rule of thumb is to apply the insecticide when feeding damage accumulates to 10% or more throughout foliage. Since the spring adults feed and move during April to early June, a second application may be needed. Systemics are used to combat larvae. It is best to apply systemics when the eggs have just been laid or while larval mines are green in color.
References
Burns, Denver P. “Yellow-Poplar Weevil.” US Forest Service. US Department of Agriculture – Forest Service, 1 Aug. 1971. Web. 3 July 2015. 2015.<http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsbdev2_043569.pdf>.
Frank, Steven. “Yellow Poplar Weevil.” Entomology Insect Biology and Management News. NC Cooperative Extension, 1 June 2015. Web. 3 July 2015. 2015.<http://entomologyces.ncsu.edu/2015/06/yellow-poplar-weevils/>.
Hyche, L.L. “Auburn University Entomology and Plant Pathology | Yellow-Poplar Leaf-Mining Weevil.” Auburn University Entomology and Plant Pathology. Auburn University - College of Agriculture, 1 July 1994. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://enpp.auburn.edu/outreach/web-publications/yellow-poplar-leaf-mining-weevil/>.
Townsend, Lee. “Yellow Poplar Weevil.” Kentucky Pest News. UK Agriculture Extension, 23 June 2015. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://kentuckypestnews.wordpress.com/2015/06/23/yellow-poplar-weevil/>.
Townsend, Lee. “YELLOW POPLAR WEEVIL.” UK Entomology. University of Kentucky, 22 Jan. 2013. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://www2.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef414.asp>.
“Yellow Poplar Weevil BUG DOC FactSheets.” Ornamental BUG DOC FactSheets. The Ohio State University. Web. 3 July 2015. <http://entomology.osu.edu/bugdoc/Shetlar/factsheet/ornamental/FSyellowpopweevil.htm>.