Characterization of the Spatial Distribution of the Pepper Weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano (Col.: Curculionidae), in Pepper Fields in South Florida.

Simple Summary: Pepper weevil (Anthonomus eugenii Cano, 1894) poses a significant threat to pepper crops worldwide in tropical and sub-tropical regions. Despite its importance, the spatial distribution of pepper weevil in fields using geospatial methods like SADIE, Moran's I, and Geary's C remains unexplored. Few studies have utilized mean-variance-based methods to assess pepper weevil distribution. This study aimed to elucidate the distribution of pepper weevil in seven pepper fields located in South Florida, Miami Dade County, while also discerning any differences across fields or similarities in distribution patterns. The results revealed an aggregated distribution of pepper weevil, which tended to become more regular towards the end of the season as fruits and plants matured. Importantly, this aggregated distribution pattern observed through the geospatial techniques aligns with findings from previous studies utilizing mean-variance-based methods. Additionally, our study highlights that infested fruit counts can serve as an effective indicator of pepper weevil distribution, reducing the time required for adult population assessment. Given the cryptic nature and small size of pepper weevil adults, visual detection on plants can be challenging, whereas infested fruits are readily observable. The pepper weevil, Anthonomus eugenii Cano, is an economically important pest of cultivated peppers (Capsicum annuum) in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. This study aimed to ascertain the spatial distribution of pepper weevil infestation across various fields in Miami Dade County, South Florida. The spatio-temporal dynamics of pepper weevil were evaluated using 144 sample points within each of seven pepper fields. The data were analyzed using three different geospatial techniques, spatial analysis by distance indices (SADIE), Moran's I, and Geary's C, to determine the spatial distribution of pepper weevil. The SADIE analysis revealed a significant aggregation distribution in 18 out of 30 sampling dates across all fields. The results from Geary's C and Moran's I indices indicated a positive spatial autocorrelation (spatial clustering/aggregation) of pepper weevil regardless of field or pepper types. Overall, the findings from this study depict an aggregated spatial distribution pattern of pepper weevil populations, characterized by a tendency for aggregation that transitions to a more uniform distribution as the season progresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]