PECAN GALL WORM

common name: Pecan Gall Worm<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

scientific name: Order Coleoptera, family Curculionidae, Anthornomus spp.

size: Adult--1/8", larva--3/16"

biology and life cycle: Complete metamorphosis. Adults fly at night and hide during the day. Larvae are snow white and pointed on both ends. Adults look like miniature boll weevils (they're in the same family).

habitat: Pecan and hickory trees.

feeding habits: Feeds in galls formed by phylloxera, which are small aphidlike insects.

economic importance: None as far as we can figure.

natural control: None needed.

organic control: None needed.

insight: A very interesting little weevil that looks like a miniature black boll weevil. The larva is very active when disturbed. Larvae are found on pecan leaves in galls formed by pecan phylloxera usually after the phylloxera are gone. Most people think the white worm caused the gall. In some years 90 percent of the galls will have worms in them. Besides these weevil larvae, other species of insects, such as the hickory shuckworm moth larvae, find the galls a cozy home to inhabit. The galls offer good protection and plenty to eat (the larvae feed on the gall walls).

  Search Library Topics      Search Newspaper Columns