What's eating my pecan 'kiowa'?

Pecan 'Kiowa' has moderate susceptibility to pecan scab and shares the standard pecan pest complex. Pecan weevil, nut casebearer, and pecan phylloxera are the most economically damaging insects. Squirrels and crows take advantage of this large-nut variety's high crop load at ripening.

Circular puncture wounds on husks; larvae consume kernels; nutfall and unmarketable crop Monitor with circle traps; apply carbaryl or permethrin when adults are detected emerging from soil; collect and destroy fallen nuts weekly

Galls on leaves, stems, or nuts in spring; heavy infestations distort tissue and cause early nut drop Apply dormant-season insecticide (dimethoate or similar) at bud swell before galls form, as treatment is ineffective once galls close over the insects

Bored entry at nut stem end; kernel destroyed; webbing around entry hole Pheromone trap monitoring; spinosad sprays timed to egg hatch; repeat for second generation 35–40 days later