Nick,
Hi Daphne,
There was a significant weevil problem at a study site of mine in a large D. latiflorus plantation in Guangxi, China. I identified the weevil as Cyrtotrachelus longimanus, which is a common and destructive bamboo pest in the region (INBAR, 2010). Perhaps the same one that is causing problems fro Mr Wolf?
Below are some general excerpts from a paper (Hogarth 2013) that mentions the weevil, with links provided to other references about control methods:
"Adult weevils cause extensive damage to the emerging shoots and the elongating culms as they gnaw holes in which to lay eggs. The larvae then feed on the shoot, causing them to become soft and rotten, often killing the shoots outright, or causing serious damage and stunted growth to the shoots that survive into maturity."
In my study site, all of the households involved in managing bamboo reported problems with the bamboo weevil, while no other serious pest problems were reported. "The weevil problem reportedly started within the first three years after the original planting. At the time of the survey, respondents estimated that an average 30% of their bamboo shoots were damaged or destroyed by the weevils (estimates ranged from 10-100%). Field observations confirmed the extreme extent of the weevil problem. Although most respondents reported various actions to control the weevil (including manually killing the adult weevils as the main control method), the pest problem was perceived to be getting worse according to two thirds of survey respondents. Management of the weevil pest is a complex problem that goes beyond the boundaries of an individual farmer's plot, and requires a project-wide pest control strategy. There are a number of 'cultural', biological and chemical control methods that can be used to manage the offending weevil (Wen, 2006; INBAR, 2010)."
Control methods from INBAR (2010):
Methods once used include:
1) injection with a mixture of hot pepper, nicotine and paraffin
2) adult catching by trained dog
3) shoot covering with caps to avoid egg-laying
methods currently used:
a) destroy overwintering chambers of pupating adults in the earth with the help of winter nursing and soil ripping
b) catch adult by hand by making use of their thanatosis (playing dead)
c) remove sheaths in der the holes aned kill all eggs and larvae in the hold
d) inject or paint the holes with nasty chemicals; sometimes 95% effectiveness if done right
e) predatory nematodes. 80% death rate is possible. Used in Guandong in the 1980s with very good results
Best regards,NickReferencesHogarth, N.J. (2013). The link between smallholder management of bamboo shoots, income and livelihoods: A case study in southern China. Forests, Trees and Livelihoods 22(2): 70-85. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2013.779078
INBAR. (2010). China's bamboo: Culture, resources, cultivation and utilization. Yang, Y., and Hui, C. (Eds.). Technical report No. 33. International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR): Beijing.
Wen, L. (2006). Preliminary report on prevention and control of Badu bamboo shoots Cytotrachelus longimanus fabrldus. Journal of Guangxi Agriculture [in Chinese].
To: bamboo-plantations@yahoogroups.com
From: bamboo-plantations@yahoogroups.com
Date: Fri, 23 May 2014 19:17:58 -0400
Subject: [bamboo-plantations] Palm Weevil/bamboo weevil
Hello bambuseros,A large red weevil/beetle is penetrating the new shoots of a bamboo in Vietnam called tamvong. The shoot dies. The weavil is probably the red palm weevil/beetle. James Wolf grows tamvong because the poles are solid and strong. He makes highly technical bamboo bicycles from the poles. Recently he has planted fields of tamvong and now his new shoots are dying from an infestation of this beetle. Does anyone on this list know of controls or preventions for this weevil?I understand that the weevil is used for human food since it is large.Yours in bamboo,
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Posted by: Daphne Lewis <daphne@chalosulky.com>
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