Field Identification
Curculionid weevil whose grub completes development inside the mango seed while the fruit still looks fine on the tree—international quarantine pest because larvae survive in shipped fruit. Exit holes may appear only after ripening.
Adults are dark gray-brown with a long snout; females drill into young fruit to lay eggs. Infested seeds are hollowed to powder; multiple larvae can share one seed in heavy pressure.
How to Deal With It
Organic Control Methods
Neem seed kernel extracts or azadirachtin timed to peak adult activity and flush can reduce oviposition; pyrethrum bursts for knockdown where permitted—coverage of inflorescences and pea-sized fruit is critical.
Ant predation on adults is inconsistent; research releases of parasitoids are regional—home orchards rely more on sanitation and timing.
Remove fallen fruit weekly; destroy infested fruit off-site; prune to manageable height for thorough coverage; harvest prompt to shorten window for late oviposition.
Bagging fruit in areas where labor is cheap; pheromone trapping for monitoring where lures exist.
Do not move fruit from quarantine zones; hot-water treatment protocols exist for commercial disinfestation—not a backyard project.
Let Nature Handle It
Natural Enemies
- Parasitic Wasps
- Predatory Ants
- Carabid Beetles
Threat Map