ABSTRACT

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, 2001 and 2002. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2002 was significantly less than in 1998. The mean in 2002 was 0.00196 weevils per trap per week, and in 1998 it was 3.99, a reduction rate of 99.95%. Insecticide applications in 2001 for boll weevils were reduced by 81.6%, compared to 1998.

The program expanded into the Southeast zone in 1999 with the diapause phase, followed by season-long phases in 2000, 2001 and 2002. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2002 was significantly less than in 2000. The mean in 2002 was 0.120, and in 2000 it was 5.54, a reduction rate of 97.84%. Insecticide applications made by the program in 2002 were less than in 2000 by 40.6%.

The program expanded into the Central zone in 2000 with the diapause phase of the program followed by a season-long phase in 2001 and 2002. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2002 was significantly less than in 2000. The mean in 2002 was 0.324, and in 2000 it was 15.66, a reduction rate of 97.86% in 2002 when compared with 2000.

The program expanded into the Northeast Ridge zone in 2001 with the diapause phase, followed by a season-long phase in 2002. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2002 was significantly less than in 2001. The mean in 2002 was 1.189, and was 5.42 in 2001, a reduction rate of 86.33%.

The program expanded in the Northeast Ridge Zone to include Eastern Poinsett with in 2002 with the diapause phase. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2002 was reduced when compared to the grid-trapping program in 2001. The mean in 2002 was 6.13, and was 11.79 in 2001, a reduction of 48.02%.

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 0.19%, in the Central Zone it was 0.36%, in the Northeast Ridge Zone it was 3.76%, while in the non-active eradication zones it was 59.60%.

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 is proving successful in eradicating the boll weevil.