Ability to Respond Total:17 / 25Ability to Respond = ( Ease of Response + Tools in Place )
Confidence:Medium
Confidence Notes:
Impact
Spread
Notes
Score
Spread Rate
Adult weevils can fly, but are rarely observed doing so; however the dispersal ability may be underestimated, larvae tunnel into the tuber and stems of sweetpotato so the possibility exists for movement through infested plant material.
3
Spread Amount
First found in the US in the 1870's, now infests the sweetpotato production area from Texas eastward to the southeastern US coastal plain; appear to be no climatic barriers to infestation in CA.
5
Damage
Notes
Score
Ecological
Increased insecticide usage would result to manage this pest if it established - this would threaten environmental quality.
1
Agricultural
The most serious pest of sweetpotato in the United States and world-wide; problematic in the field, in storage areas and for quarantine, primary hosts are in the genus Ipomoea including sweetpotato, ornamental types, and weeds in the genus.
4
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
Impacts on gardens.
1
Health
0
Benefit
Notes
Score
Ecological
0
Agricultural
0
Infrastructure
0
Cultural
0
Health
0
Total
14
Ability to Respond
Ease of Response
Notes
Score
Detection
Larvae are hidden as they tunnel in plant material, the adults are fairly large beetles but are secretive and infest leaf undersides, they are primarily active at night.
3
Control
Insecticide applications to the soil of sweetpotato fields is primary means of control, biological control has been studied and plays a role in management; the pheromone for the adults has been identified so baited traps could be used for monitoring.
2
Tools in Place
Notes
Score
Entry
A-rated pest from CDFA.
5
Control
A-rated pest from CDFA.
5
Outreach
Knowledge of this pest is high within the potentially affected industry; widespread outreach is lacking.
