Biology and Management of the Carrot Weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in North America

The carrot weevil, Listronotus oregonensis (LeConte) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is a devastating pest of high value Apiaceous crops like carrots (Daucus carota subsp. sativusHoffm.), parsley (Petroselinum crispum (Mill.) Fuss), and celery (Apium graveolens L.). Although native to North America, it is a serious pest across the Eastern United States and Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada. Females deposit eggs in the petiole of cultivated hosts, and upon hatching, larvae tunnel down through the petiole and into plant roots causing wilting, yellowing, and plant death. Scouting procedures focus mainly on adult activity and require detection of small egg scars on the foliage and crown of the root, or reliance on traps that are only effective at the beginning of the season before the crop emerges. Several avenues of cultural, biological, and chemical control have been explored for this pest, but with limited success. Furthermore, investigation of these management strategies have primarily focused on carrot systems, neglecting other cultivated Apiaceae. Here we present a review of carrot weevil research and highlight key knowledge gaps in the carrot weevil system, which impede our understanding of this insect’s biology and behavioral ecology. Future research addressing these key knowledge gaps will expand our understanding of this pest and contribute to the development and implementation of more effective management strategies.