Pests, Beneficials, Diseases and Disorders of Mangoes - Northern ...

Mango seed weevil
Sternochetus mangiferae (Family Curculionidae)
Description:
Eggs: Creamy white in colour and elongate.
Immatures: White legless larva with a brown head.
Adults: Dark brown to grey-black oval shaped weevil with a prominent
snout. Mottled markings on wing covers. Adults size: 10 mm in length.
Life Cycle: Eggs are laid onto fruit that are about 30 mm in length
(or sometimes larger). After the egg is laid the weevil makes a small
incision in the fruit skin which the sap flows out and covers the egg
glueing it to the surface of the fruit. After the larvae hatch they tunnel
through the fruit flesh moving directly to the seed, this takes about 1–2
days. Larvae feed inside the seed until they pupate. The emergent
adult chews through the hard seed coating within 2 months of fruit fall.
Development from egg to adult takes approximately 53 days. There is
only one generation per year.
Similar to: Other native weevils.
Damage: At egg laying, fruit may be covered in many spots of oozing
sap. By the time fruit is harvested the egg laying scars and tunnels in
the fruit flesh are not noticeable. The only damage is to the seed.
Control Strategies: Mango seed weevil is a quarantine pest and fruit
from infested properties should not be transported to uninfested areas.
Removing fallen fruit reduces populations in infested areas. Preflowering
and post-fruit set treatments of insecticide is recommended
for control.
Monitoring: Adults may occasionally be seen moving onto branches
and the outer canopy at flowering. Inspect young fruit for egg laying
symptoms. Take random samples of fully developed fruit, and cut fruit
to inspect the seed for larvae or pupae.
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