Acoustic detection systems have been developed to locate and target hidden infestations of root weevil larvae in container-grown nursery crops. Tests were conducted in laboratory and field environments with natural and artificial infestations of Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius) in containers with different nursery plants to determine whether the larvae were large enough for acoustic detection during late fall when scouting for infestation often occurs at commercial nurseries in Oregon. The rootballs of tested plants were examined to verify the presence or absence of larvae. All of the containers rated at high likelihood of infestation contained O. sulcatus larvae (29% of those tested). No larvae were found in any containers rated at low likelihood of infestation (20%). Sporadic sounds were detected but failed to exhibit periodicity suggestive of infestation in 51% of the containers (rated at medium likelihood). Fifty seven percent of these medium-rated containers were infested. Experience with the use of the acoustic system in field environments suggested improvements in user-friendliness and robustness that could improve its utility for early detection and targeting applications in commercial nurseries.

peppermint, rhododendron, spruce, strawberry, Virginia creeper, yew, subterranean insects
Alberta spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss ‘Albertina’), Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst. ‘Mariana Nana’), English yew (Taxus baccata L. ‘Fastigiata’), peppermint (Mentha piperita L.), rhododendron (Rhododendron L. ‘Sappho’), strawberry, (Fragraria × ananassa Duch. ‘Totem’), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch.)
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Author notes

We thank Everett Foreman, Eric Kaufmann, and Betty Weaver, (USDA-ARS Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL) for assistance with acoustic recording and analysis; Walter Suttle, Victor Sahakian, and Ronald Tuckett (Monrovia, Dayton, OR), and David Clemmens (D&M Nursery, Canby, OR) for providing nursery plants and facilities; and David Edwards, Shannon Schowalter, Carmelita Guiterrez, and Mary Albrecht (USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR) for recovering and weighing larvae from acoustic samples and maintaining the black vine weevil colony. This work was funded in part by a grant from The Horticulture Research Institute, 1000 Vermont Avenue, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005 and grants from the Northwest Nursery Crops Research Center, Corvallis, OR 97330.

2Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS, Center for Medical, Agricultural, and Veterinary Entomology, Gainesville, FL 32608.

3Research Entomologist, USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 97330.

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2002