04/10739
P PM point 8.2
Extraction from CABI CPC 2002 Edn prepared by Alan MacLeod, CSL, UK
Selected texts for Listroderes costirostris CABI CPC 2002 Edn
NAMES AND TAXONOMY
Preferred Name
Listroderes costirostris Schönherr
Taxonomic Position
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Metazoa
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Curculionidae
Other Names Used
Desiantha nociva French
Listroderes difficilis Germain
Listroderes hypocritus Hustache
Listroderes lugubris Germain
Listroderes obliquus Klug
Listroderes paranensis Hustache
Listroderes vicinus Hustache
BAYER CODE: LISTCO
Common Names
English:
Australian tomato weevil
brown vegetable weevil
buff-colored tomato weevil
carrot weevil
dirt-colored weevil
turnip weevil
vegetable weevil
weevil, Australian tomato
weevil, buff-colored tomato
weevil, vegetable
NOTES ON TAXONOMY AND NOMENCLATURE
Listroderes is a Neotropical genus comprising about 66 described species (Wibmer and O'Brien, 1986).
L. costirostris was first described from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Morrone (1993) redescribed this species and provided a description of a male, indicating that this weevil is not always parthenogenetic.
There is some confusion concerning synonyms of L. costirostris. L. obliquus Klug has long been considered a synonym (CIE, 1964). However, according to Wibmer and O'Brien (1986), L. obliquus Klug is considered a valid species. May (1994) recognized L. costirostris and L. obliquus as synonyms of L. difficilis Germain, whilst Wibmer and O'Brien (1986) recognized L. difficilis as a valid species. However, O'Brien and Wibmer (1982) listed L. obliquus and L. difficilis as synonyms of L. costirostris.
Morrone (1993) listed the full synonymy for L. costirostris provided in the tabular data, where L. obliquus and L. difficilis are recognized as synonyms of L. costirostris. However, he stated that there will remain some doubt as to what the synonyms of L. costirostris truly represent until biological and chromosomal data have been assembled.
HOST RANGE
L. costirostris is a polyphagous pest, primarily affecting vegetables, but can also feed on flowers and many wild hosts (High, 1939).
In Western Australia, potatoes, tomatoes and root crops are the preferred food plants; although most vegetables are attacked during the winter; peas, beans and pumpkins are relatively immune (Jenkins, 1944).
In Uruguay, Parker (1950) reported that adults fed on young potato crops, whilst the larvae fed principally on chickweed, Stellaria media (Parker et al., 1950).
In Queensland, L. costirostris is a pest of tobacco in seed beds (Broadley, 1975).
L. costirostris was found attacking garland chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum coronarium) and other winter vegetables, including Gynura bicolor and various brassica crops in Taiwan (Hsu and Chiang, 1983).
Principal weeds hosts include capeweed (Cryptostemma calendulacea and Arctotheca calendula), chickweed, dandelion, milkthistle (Sonchus), wild radish, wild parsnip and marsh mallow (Malva rotundifolia).
Primary hosts: polifago (polyphagous), Allium cepa (onion), Allium sativum (garlic), Arachis hypogaea (groundnut), Beta vulgaris (beetroot), Brassica napus var. napus (rape), Brassica oleracea (cabbages, cauliflowers), Chrysanthemum coronarium, Cichorium endivia (endives), Capsicum annuum (bell pepper), Daucus carota (carrot), Lactuca sativa (lettuce), Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato), Nicotiana tabacum (tobacco), Petroselinum crispum (parsley), Pastinaca sativa (parsnip), Raphanus raphanistrum (charlock), Solanum melongena (aubergine), Solanum tuberosum (potato), Spinacia oleracea (spinach).
Secondary hosts: Gynura bicolor, Papaver (poppies), Petunia hybrida, Phlox, Viola wittrockiana hybrids.
Wild hosts: Buddleia (Butterflybush), Cirsium spp., Eupatorium, Geranium carolinianum (Carolina geranium), Helenium (sneezeweeds), Linaria (Toadflax), Malva (mallow), Morus alba (mora), Oxalis (wood sorrels), Plantago (Plantain), Rumex (Dock), Scutellaria (Skullcap), Sonchus (Milkthistle), Verbena, Veronica peregrina (American speedwell), Stellaria media (chickweed).
Affected Plant Stages: Seedling stage, and vegetative growing stage.
Affected Plant Parts: Leaves, roots, stems, and whole plant.
GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION
Notes on distribution
L. costirostris is a native of South America and was first discovered in the USA (Mississippi) in 1922, and in California during 1925 (High, 1939). It is the most widespread species of the genus Listroderes, and has been accidentally introduced into Australia, New Zealand, Spain, South Africa, USA, Japan and Easter Island (Morrone, 1993).
In the USA, it now occurs in the Gulf and southern states and in Oklahoma, Arizona, and California. In North Carolina, the vegetable weevil occurs throughout the state but is generally more common in the southern Coastal Plain.
L. costirostris has probably been established in New Zealand since the 1930s as Muggeridge (1933) reported it being present in widely separated localities. It was found in Australia for the first time in Victoria in 1905, and is now widespread and intermittently injurious in all the States, especially Queensland and New South Wales (Wilson and Wearne, 1962).
The distribution map includes records based on specimens of L. costirostris from the collection in the Natural History Museum (London, UK): dates of collection are noted in the List of countries (NHM, various dates).
List of countries
Europe
France: present, few occurrences (CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Portugal: present, no further details (Balachowsky, 1963; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Spain: restricted distribution (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Balearic Islands: present, no further details (Balachowsky, 1963; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Canary Islands: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Asia
[China]
Taiwan: present, no further details (Hsu & Chiang, 1983; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Japan: present, no further details (Matsumoto, 1962; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000)
Honshu: present, no further details (Shiraki, 1952; Morimoto, 1992; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Kyushu: present, no further details (Yokomizi & Nagano, 1979; Morimoto, 1992; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Ryukyu Archipelago: present, no further details (Morimoto, 1992; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Shikoku: present, no further details (Morimoto, 1992; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Korea, Republic of: present, no further details (Morimoto, 1992; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Africa
Morocco: present, no further details (Balachowsky, 1963; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
South Africa: present, no further details (Brain, 1929; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Western Hemisphere
Argentina: widespread (Bosq, 1942; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Bolivia: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Brazil: present, no further details (Buchanan, 1937; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000)
Bahia: present, no further details (NHM, 1905; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Parana: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Santa Catarina: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Chile: widespread (Olalquiaga, 1961; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Easter Island: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000)
Paraguay: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
USA: restricted distribution (CABI/EPPO, 2000)
Alabama: widespread (High, 1939; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Arizona: restricted distribution (O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Arkansas: widespread (High, 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
California: restricted distribution (High, 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Florida: restricted distribution (High, 1939; Tappan, 1974; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Georgia (USA): widespread (High, 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Hawaii: present, no further details (Buchanan, 1937; Pemberton, 1947; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Kentucky: restricted distribution (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Louisiana: widespread (High, 1939; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Maryland: restricted distribution (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Mississippi: widespread (High 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Missouri: restricted distribution (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
New Jersey: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
North Carolina: widespread (O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Oklahoma: restricted distribution (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Oregon: present, no further details (Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
South Carolina: widespread (High, 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Tennessee: widespread (High, 1939; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Texas: restricted distribution (High, 1939; O'Brien & Wibmer, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Virginia: restricted distribution (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Uruguay: present, no further details (Ruffinelli & Carbonell, 1954; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Venezuela: present, no further details (CIE, 1964; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Oceania
Australia: widespread (Wilson & Wearne, 1962; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Australian Northern Territory: present, no further details (Wilson & Wearne, 1962; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
New South Wales: widespread (Gurney, 1932; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Queensland: present, no further details (Wilson & Wearne, 1962; Cunningham, 1969; Broadley, 1975; Allsopp & Lloyd, 1982; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
South Australia: present, no further details (Wilson & Wearne, 1962; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Tasmania: present, no further details (Miller, 1945, 1979; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Victoria: present, no further details (Prescott, 1934; Anon., 1970; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Western Australia: present, no further details (Jenkins, 1944; Button & Hardy, 1971; Morrone, 1993; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
New Caledonia: present, no further details (Cohic, 1956; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
New Zealand: present, no further details (Muggeridge, 1933; Ferguson & Hartley, 1978; Morrone, 1993; May, 1994; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
Norfolk Island: present, no further details (Hawkins, 1942; CABI/EPPO, 2000; EPPO, 2002)
[footnotes not shown]
BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY
Most of these notes are taken from High (1939) who described the life history of the pest in southern USA. L. costirostris deposits its eggs on plants or in nearby soil. The crowns of host plants are the preferred locations when ample moisture is present. After depositing the eggs on the leaves and stems, the weevil attaches them to the leaves by a glutinous secretion exuded at the time of oviposition. In the soil, the weevil constructs a small pocket with its ovipositor before depositing the eggs. The eggs are usually deposited singly, although masses of two to eight or more eggs are sometimes found. Weevils depositing only unfertilized eggs often oviposit in masses.
On the Gulf of Mexico coast, USA, egg deposition usually starts in late September and continues until the end of April, but this period varies greatly according to temperature. If oviposition begins in early autumn, as a result of some adults emerging from aestivation by temperatures that are low enough to stimulate activity, egg deposition by these individuals will be completed before cold weather. However, if high temperatures postpone emergence from aestivation until late autumn, such adults will not deposit their complement of eggs until the following spring. Egg incubation period ranged from 15 to 33 days when the average daily temperature was 12.8-24.4°C. During the spring and autumn most of the eggs under observation hatched within 15-20 days after deposition.
Immediately after hatching, the larvae begin feeding on the buds of the host plants, or on the undersides of leaves close to the buds. Later in their development they feed on all the foliage parts, and on root crops, such as turnips and carrots, they often feed on the roots, causing severe damage. The larval period under laboratory conditions varies greatly according to temperature and moisture, averaging approximately 35 days. Larvae are found in the field from the last week of October until mid-May of the following year, occurring in greatest abundance during December, January and February.
After the last moult the larva enters the soil and forms an earthen cell, within which it undergoes a resting or prepupal stage. This may last only a day or two, but where soil moisture is high or when temperatures are low, the resting stage is prolonged. Larvae entering the soil in late autumn and winter are much slower in transforming to pupae than are those entering the soil in the spring. Mature larvae, if disturbed after constructing their cells, will immediately begin repairing the cells before transforming into pupae.
The pupae are found in the soil near the host plant, at depths ranging from 12 to 50 mm, depending on soil moisture and texture. The pupal period ranges from 13 to 41 days. Pupae are present in the field during a normal season from mid-November until the middle of June, the peak abundance occurring in January.
As the pupa transforms into the adult weevil, the wings change colour from creamy white to pale brown. After transformation, the adult remains in the pupal cell for a few days before emergence until its body is sufficiently hardened. At emergence, the adult is pale brown and conspicuously marked with a pale grey 'V'-shaped mark on the elytra. Both these features are obscured during the adult stage, since the characteristic dull greyish-brown colour soon becomes predominant. Emergence of adults usually begins in early December and terminates in mid-June, peak emergence occurring between December and May.
The newly-emerged weevils are voracious feeders and seek food immediately after emergence. In the summer months the adults usually become inactive, except for occasional periods of slight feeding activity. They usually feed on the foliage of their host plants, but under some circumstances they feed on the roots of vegetables. Feeding occurs principally during the night, although weevils have been observed feeding during the day when heavy foliage gives them protection against direct sunlight. During the day, weevils hide under leaves, clods of earth, or other objects close to the soil surface.
As temperatures rise early in the summer, the adults aestivate and may be collected in large numbers under old straw and rubbish around the edges of gardens and fields. Adults may also shelter under loose bark, or in finely-pulverized soil during the early part of summer, but this may be only a temporary retreat, since in late summer it is difficult to locate weevils in the soil. After temperatures fall at the end of the summer, the adults leave their hiding places and resume their feeding activities on various host plants. The adults occur in the field throughout the year, but are present in greatest abundance from the end of December until mid-April.
L. costirostris may be disseminated by natural and artificial means. In the southern States of the USA it has spread northward, eastward and westward at a rate of approximately 50 miles a year. Dissemination has been more rapid in open, cultivated sections than in the wooded sections, suggesting that heavy forest growth may retard the normal rate of dispersal. Numerous field observations suggest that flight may be the principal means of dispersal. Inspections during the summer in some fields that were heavily infested the previous spring failed to reveal the presence of the weevil, whereas in fields that were free of infestation during the spring, large populations of aestivating weevils were found. Adults crawl rather slowly and it is doubtful whether they disperse significantly in this manner.