Ireland
March 30, 2017

Seedtech is on a mission to shine a light on the importance of monitoring and controlling pests. Together with our fifteen participants and in association with PGRO, join us for the next number of weeks as we monitor Bean Weevil presence in farms across the country. We’re calling it #CatchTheWeevil.

How Does #CatchTheWeevil Work?

Fifteen pheromone traps are being placed throughout the country alongside Spring Bean crops. The vines within the traps have been perfumed specifically to attract Bean Weevils.
 
Each week we’ll update you by email & here on our website with our latest #CatchTheWeevil counts and agronomic information. Dr. Louise McNamara from Teagasc will also be testing the weevils for sensitivity to pyrethroids as part of their ongoing research work. You can follow our activities and join in the experiment on Twitter by using the hashtag #CatchTheWeevil or visiting @SeedTechnology. 

What are Bean Weevils?

The Bean Weevil is a tiny insect best known by its characteristic feeding damage on young bean leaves (U-shaped notches).  The adult beetle feeds on the leaves and lays its eggs that hatch into larvae.  These larvae burrow through the soil into the developing nitrogen ‘making’ nodules on the bean roots, thus reducing the plants ability to produce nitrogen.

Spring Bean crops are being sown across the country and our Weevil Traps are being put in place. Keep current with all the latest #CatchTheWeevil updates on our Twitter @seedtechnology

Website: http://www.seedtech.ie/

Published: March 30, 2017