Pea Weevil

Description

Adult: Adult pea weevils are brown with patches of white, gray, and black. They have a triangular white patch on the prothorax. Their antennae and legs are black. They are oval-shaped, measuring 4.5-6 mm long.
Egg: Eggs are oval and 1.5 mm long. They are a yellow-orange and laid in small clusters on pea pod surfaces.
Larva: Larvae develop through four instars growing to 6-7 mm long.

Life History

Pea weevils have one generation per season. Adults overwinter in plant debris in the soil or stored dry peas. In spring, adults lay their eggs on pea pods, and hatched larvae bore directly into the pods. At maturity, they will have consumed all the content of the seed. Pupation takes about 2 weeks.

Damage

Larvae cause the primary damage by feeding within the pea seeds, making them undesirable for human consumption.

Management

Management should begin right after pea bloom.

Cultural

• Monitor using a sweep net in commercial fields. The sampling threshold is one weevil per 25 sweeps, indicating a possible infestation.
• Till or disc the soil to reduce overwintering adults.
• Destroy crop residue at the end of the season.
• Remove volunteer plants in the spring.
• Plant and harvest early.

Chemical

Apply insecticides to kill adults before they lay their eggs on the pods.