Horticulture: Smart trap for improved early detection of vine weevil to enable successful application of integrated pest management

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Vine weevil is an economically important pest of UK soft-fruit and ornamental crops that causes millions of pounds worth of damage every year. Controlling vine weevil utilises many elements of integrated pest management (IPM) but growers continue to experience economic losses due to this species. These losses can be largely attributed to a lack of an effective (determined by the sensitivity and reliability of the monitoring tool) monitoring tools leading to ineffective or inappropriate control applications being undertaken. This project will develop a semiochemical-based 'smart' monitoring tool to enable growers to make informed pest management decisions and unlock the full potential of current IPM compatible technologies. This is critical as growers have already switched from using synthetic chemical insecticides and instead rely on the use of crop hygiene and biological controls, but these approaches require monitoring to determine efficacy as well as to correctly time applications. The novelty of this project is that it is the first to bring together improved knowledge of vine weevil visual and chemical ecology with a prototype 'smart' monitoring tool. With these tools it will be possible to design and test a novel commercial vine weevil monitoring tool. Key to improving the sensitivity and reliability of the monitoring tool will be the development of an effective lure. The ability to automatically and reliably detect the presence of vine weevils within crops means that growers can reduce labour costs whilst at the same time receiving real-time information on the pest status of a crop.Our proposed work plan will be realised through the completion of four research objectives, 1. Develop an effective vine weevil lure; 2. Test monitoring tools with and without the addition of the vine weevil lure under semi-field conditions; 3. Test the best combination of monitoring tool design and vine weevil lure under commercial cropping conditions (soft-fruit and/or ornamentals); 4. Communicate results from the project through agronomist-led site visits.