What is Bud Weevil?
Bud Weevils are known for their elongated snouts. They are usually small and herbivorous.
Scientific Name: Ochyromera artocarpi
Life Cycle-

Egg: The gravid females make small cavities on young jackfruit buds and lay eggs in them singly. The egg is pearl white, smooth and oblong or oval. eggs hatch in 3 to 4 days.
Grub: The newly hatched legless grub is pale white with a pale brown head. It bores through the tissue in all directions and becomes mature in 12 to 15 days. The full-grown grub is whitish in colour. Its head is light brown but darker at the frontal region. This is the most damaging phase of the insect.
Pupae: The pupal stage lasts for 5 to 6 days. The adult emerges by boring a hole on the outer skin.
Adults: The adult is a small, active, greyish brown weevil is irregular in shape and has small bare spots. It is often found in groups feeding on the tissue inflorescence.

How does Bud Weevil damage?
- The adult feeds on leaves, stem & fruits.
- The larvae make more damage as it moves deeper in the endocarp portion of the fruits and feed on it.
- Adult weevil emerges from the dried fallen fruits by making small circular holes and female lays egg over plant tissues.
- Severe infestation results in premature flower bud & fruit drop.

How to manage Bud Weevil?
Cultural Method | Chemical Control |
Collection and destruction of infested flower buds, fallen fruits checks the further spread of infestation by weevil. Proper sanitation of orchard should be followed.Pheromones trap can be placed. | Foliar Application:Imidachloropid 17.8 SL @0.5 ml/litre. Chloropyriphos 50% EC + Cypermethrin 5% EC @1 ml/litre.Spinosad 45% EC @ 0.4 ml/litre. |
References-
- https://niphm.gov.in/IPMPackages/Jackfruit.pdf
- https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Damage-symptoms-of-Ochyromera-artocarpi-on-jackfruit-a-Damaged-fruit-b-Early-instar_fig2_348544543
- http://ecoursesonline.iasri.res.in/mod/page/view.php?id=12662
- Image source: https://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/integrated-pest-managment/ipm-for-fruit-crops/ipm-strategies-for-jackfruit/jackfruit-insect-pests