Abstract

Wingless weevils (Otiorhynchus spp.) are widespread in red raspberry (Rubus idaeus) in several regions of Europe. One objective of the 2-year (1998 and 1999) EU-Craft/BBW (Switzerland)-funded project 'Reduced Application of Chemicals in European Raspberry Production (RACER)' was to develop and test simple trapping methods to permit growers to detect the nocturnally active adult weevils in raspberry plantations. Wooden groove traps (30 x 30 cm, with 8 mm wide and 8 mm deep grooves cut on the underside), and 50 x 50 cm fabric traps (black landscape fabric) were compared with diurnal and nocturnal beating. The species found at each geographical location were identified. In Finland, O. ovatus and O. nodosus are frequently found in strawberry plantations but groove traps and fabric traps failed to trap any weevils in fields adjacent to strawberry in 1998. In 1999, modified groove traps (4?4 mm grooves) at three sites only caught a very small number of O. ovatus. Both diurnal and nocturnal beating of the plants failed to detect weevils. These and other records suggest that wingless weevils are not common in raspberry in Finland. In Scotland, the main species associated with raspberry is the clay-coloured weevil (O. singularis), but vine weevils (O. sulcatus) were also detected. Nocturnal sampling was to be the most effective method of detecting these weevils, although small numbers were found in the grooved traps. In 1999, a hand-held beating tray, as developed for the WSU Nooksack IPM Project in the USA, was tested and proved a convenient method for detecting weevils, but could only be used effectively after dark. In Italy, both summer and autumn fruiting raspberry plantations were examined for weevils. Seven Otiorhynchus spp. were identified. The most abundant were O. apenninus, O. sulcatus, O. armadillo, O. ovatus and O. globus. Crop scouting and nocturnal beating were the most effective methods to detect adult weevils. O. apenninus, O. armadillo, O. ovatus and O. sulcatus were considered to be damaging to raspberry plants.