Sweet potato weevils, also known as sweet potato ant tusks, are a serious pest that affects sweet potato crops. In Guangdong, they are commonly referred to as "sand locusts" or "sand worms." These pests cause significant damage, especially during the middle and late growth stages of autumn potatoes cultivated on dry slopes. On average, infestation rates range from 10% to 15%, but in severe cases, up to 40% to 50% of the crop can be affected.
To manage these pests, farmers can implement crop rotation strategies such as rice-potato, potato-vegetable, peanut-sweet potato, or sweet potato-corn rotations. These practices help reduce the population of field pests over time. During the mid to late growth stages of sweet potatoes, regular hilling (earth cultivation) is recommended to fill cracks in the soil, preventing weevils from entering through these openings. Maintaining proper soil moisture through effective irrigation can also help suppress their breeding.
Another important practice is to remove and burn any damaged sweet potato vines found in the field. This helps eliminate potential breeding sites for the pests.
For chemical control, bait trapping and pesticide spraying are effective methods. A solution made from 40% Dimethoate EC or 90% crystal trichlorfon diluted at a ratio of 500 times can be used to soak sweet potato slices for 12–20 hours. After drying, these treated slices can be placed into small holes dug in the potato field. Cover the holes with straw and place about 50–60 traps per mu. Replace the bait every 5–7 days to trap and kill adult weevils.
In the middle to late growth stages of autumn potatoes, applying 800–1000 times diluted 90% crystal trichlorfon directly to the fields can help prevent further infestation by the pests. Combining cultural, mechanical, and chemical control methods ensures a more effective and sustainable approach to managing sweet potato weevil populations.
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