What's eating my souari nut?

Souari nut (Caryocar nuciferum), a large South American forest tree, has limited documented pest research. In its native range, seed-boring beetles, fruit flies, and agoutis (which bury and cache the large nuts) are the main threats. Large mammals are the primary 'pest' at harvest time.

Larvae bore into large seeds while still in the husk; exit holes visible in dried nuts; kernel partially or wholly consumed Harvest promptly when husks split; sun-dry nuts before storage; store in rodent-proof, ventilated containers with diatomaceous earth

Maggots in the fruit pulp surrounding the nut; fermentation and premature drop of infested fruits Protein-bait traps around trees; collect and destroy fallen fruit within days; harvest at first signs of ripeness rather than waiting for drop

Whole fruits carried off and cached; a portion of seeds cached and never recovered (acts as natural seed dispersal, but causes significant crop loss in cultivated settings) Wire-mesh ground protection under canopy at harvest time; prompt collection of fallen fruit; live trapping and relocation where permitted