The Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program (ABWEP) was initiated in 1997 to rid the state of the boll weevil Anthonomus grandis Boheman.

The Arkansas program began in the Southwest zone in 1997 with the diapause phase, followed by season-long phases in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2001. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2001 was significantly less than in 1998. The mean in 2001 was 0.065 weevils per trap per week, and in 1998 it was 3.96, a reduction rate of 98.36%. Insecticide applications in 2001 for boll weevils were reduced by 25.2%, compared to 1998.

The program expanded into the Southeast zone in 1999 with the diapause phase, followed by season-long phases in 2000, and 2001. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2001 was significantly less than in 2000. The mean in 2001 was 0.328, and in 2000 it was 5.54, a reduction rate of 94.08%. Insecticide applications made by the program in 2001 were less than in 2000 by 23.2%.

The program expanded into the Central zone in 2000 with the diapause phase of the program followed by a season-long phase in 2001. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2001 was significantly less than in
2000. The mean in 2001 was 0.399, and in 2000 it was 15.66, a reduction rate of 97.45% in 2001 when compared with 2000.

The program expanded into the Northeast Ridge zone in 2001 with the diapause phase, with the season-long phase to be implemented in 2002. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2001 was 5.42.

The overall percent boll weevil damaged squares and bolls during the month of September were significantly lower in active eradication zones as compared with regions outside eradication. The percent damage in the Southwest Zone was 0.00 %, in the Southeast Zone it was 0.62%, in the Central Zone it was 1.57%, in the Northeast Ridge Zone it was 4.75%, while in the non-active eradication zones it was 34.27%.

The results of the ABWEP, demonstrated to this point, indicate significant progress made toward eradication, especially when proven operational principles are effectively implemented. The use of pheromone baited traps for detection, along with sound cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods, simultaneously implemented within a harmonized system, have proven successful in eradicating the boll weevil. An extensive environmental monitoring program (as reported in Catanach and Pietsch, 2002) has also been implemented to 1) ensure that all acreage near sensitive sites are treated timely; 2) prevent off-target drift into sensitive areas; 3) provide documentation to verify conditions and activities associated with treatments to improve safety, while reducing liability issues for the Program.