Pea weevils - Ask Extension
Do you have any advice for getting rid of a pea weevil infestation? They've been driving me buggy (hah) for about 8 years, every time I try to save my...
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Pea weevils #857980
Asked January 28, 2024, 12:13 AM EST
Do you have any advice for getting rid of a pea weevil infestation? They've been driving me buggy (hah) for about 8 years, every time I try to save my own seeds (and the idea of larvae in the peas we eat is squicking me out). Thank you for your help!
Polk County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello,
It sounds like you are reintroducing the pea weevil to your property each year. Pea weevils can also overwinter in the ground and keeping the area free of overwintering hosts is also important. This Utah State University page says that freezing the pea seeds for 24-30 hours will help prevent weevil infestation, so that would be worth a try. You could also not save your seeds and buy new peas if you are worried about re-infestation. If you are seeing notching on young plants spraying an insecticide prior to pea bloom is important since the insects lay eggs after this time and populations will increase. Here is more information
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/ipm/ag-pests/arthropods/pea-weevil
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/vegetable-pests/hosts-pests/pea-green-dry-pea-weevil
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
It sounds like you are reintroducing the pea weevil to your property each year. Pea weevils can also overwinter in the ground and keeping the area free of overwintering hosts is also important. This Utah State University page says that freezing the pea seeds for 24-30 hours will help prevent weevil infestation, so that would be worth a try. You could also not save your seeds and buy new peas if you are worried about re-infestation. If you are seeing notching on young plants spraying an insecticide prior to pea bloom is important since the insects lay eggs after this time and populations will increase. Here is more information
https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/ipm/ag-pests/arthropods/pea-weevil
https://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/vegetable/vegetable-pests/hosts-pests/pea-green-dry-pea-weevil
Thank you for using Ask Extension!
Oh, I don't plant my saved seeds, I can't. I keep trying, and then have to throw them all away because of the bugs. I keep hoping, and keep failing, so I keep buying new seeds, and every year it's the same thing.
Thank you for the info and links! I didn't realize they could travel up to 4 miles to find pea plants, which would make changing planting areas useless for preventing them, so that's good to know. And it might explain how I ended up with them in the first place.
