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 season-long maintenance phases in 2002 and 2003. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was significantly less than in 1998. The mean in 2003 was 0.00013 weevils per trap per week, and in 1998 it was 3.99, a reduction rate of 99.997%. Insecticide applications in 2003 for boll weevils were reduced by 100.0%, compared to 1998.

The program expanded into the Southeast zone in 1999 with the diapause phase, followed by season-long phases in 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was significantly less than in 2000. The mean in 2003 was 0.0144, and in 2000 it was 5.54, a reduction rate of 99.74%. Insecticide applications made by the program in 2003 were less than in 2000 by 65.5%.

The program expanded into the Central zone in 2000 with the diapause phase of the program followed by a season-long phase in 2001, 2002 and 2003. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was significantly less than in 2000. The mean in 2003 was 0.028, and in 2000 it was 15.66, a reduction rate of 99.82% in 2003 when compared with 2000. Insecticide applications made by the program in 2003 were less than in 2000 by 31.5%.

The program expanded into the Northeast Ridge zone in 2001 with the diapause phase, followed by a season-long phase in 2002 and 2003. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was significantly less than in 2001. The mean in 2003 was 0.218, and was 8.70 in 2001, a reduction rate of 97.50%. Insecticide applications made by the program in 2003 were less than in 2002 by 23.6%.

The program expanded in the Northeast Ridge Zone to include Eastern Poinsett in 2002 with the diapause phase, followed by a season-long phase in 2003. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was reduced when compared to the grid-trapping program in 2001. The mean in 2003 was .333, and was 11.79 in 2001, a reduction of 97.18%.

The program expanded into the Northeast Delta Zone in 2003 with the diapause phase, with the season-long phase to be implemented in 2004. The seasonal mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was reduced when compared to the grid-trapping program in 2002. The season mean number of boll weevils captured per trap per week in 2003 was 9.576, and was 52.95 in 2002.

The overall percent boll weevil damaged squares and bolls during the month of September were significantly lower in zones when damage during the full-season phase of the program was compared with zones in the diapause phase. The percent damage in the Southwest Zone was 0.00%, in the Southeast Zone it was 0.00%, in the Central Zone it was 0.00%, in the Northeast Ridge Zone it was 0.225%, while in the non-active eradication zones it was 7.28%. In 2002 prior to the initiation of eradication activities within the Northeast Delta Zone the percent damage was 59.6.

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.