乐生活Anthonomus grandis is a beetle that damages cotton buds and flowers. Adult insects have long gray noses, usually less than 6 mm long.
Anthonomus grandis emigrated from Mexico to the United States in the late nineteenth Century and attacked all the cotton growing areas in the United States in 1820s, resulting in serious damage. In the late 20th century, it also became a very serious pest in South America.
Anthonomus grandis winters in cotton fields or in well-drained areas and breeds on farms after diapause. They live in cotton fields from early spring to midsummer, peaking at the end of spring and feeding on immature cotton bolls.
They lay eggs in the buds of cotton seedlings, and females can lay up to 200 eggs in 10 to 12 days. In summer, the life cycle from eggs to adults takes about three weeks. Under optimum conditions, 8 to 10 generations may occur in each season.
They begin to die at temperatures below – 5 C (23 F). Studies at the University of Missouri have shown that they cannot survive for more than an hour at -15 degrees C (5 degrees F). When air temperature drops to these levels, the insulation provided by defoliation, crop residues and snow can make them survive.
Its natural enemies include fire ants, insects, spiders, birds, and parasitic wasps, which can be used in biological pest control.
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