A good looking crop of field peas from Larry MacArthur in Malone, FL. Photo: Josh Thompson
Over the past few weeks, numerous calls have come in to the Extension Office about a strange bug found in field peas (cowpeas, southern peas). Whether you have a small garden patch, or 200 acres of peas, you probably have the pea weevil, also known as the pea curculio.
The pea weevil reeks its havoc by laying eggs into young pea pods. It only lays one egg in each hole it makes on a pod, but will attack many pods during its life cycle. Once the eggs hatch, the weevil larvae feed on the inside on the pods causing major damage to quality and yield.
Control of the pea weevil has become very difficult, and even impossible in some areas. In regions where peas are grown every year, populations can be very high. Additionally, some populations have developed resistance to pyrethroid insecticides, which includes almost all of the chemical control options. Many commercial growers in Georgia have had to quit growing field peas because of this resistant pest.
According to UF/IFAS and UGA entomologists, there are no effective insecticides for pea weevils once they develop resistance. Research is currently being conducted to determine if there are any other chemical options for this troublesome pest that could be labeled in the future.
For more information on the pea weevil and control see: Cowpea Curculio or Commercial Vegetable Insect Control.
Pea weevil ovipositing an egg into a pea pod. Photo: Josh Thompson
When walking through a pea field, pea weevils usually fall to the ground and play dead. This makes them hard to sneak up on. Photo: Josh Thompson
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