Jun 10, 2020
Puncturevine 2020
Puncturevine is a weed that even the most avid environmentalist has a difficult time liking. Fortunately, it is not a native plant and there are products available to control it. It was brought to California from Asia, Africa and the Mediterranean region and has spread across the county. It can be a serious problem in orchards, turf and on ditch banks. It is a summer annual and will die from frost, but the seed heads are most troublesome when they have matured. Puncturevine (Tribulus terrestris) is in the caltrop family and has several common names including goatheads, Mexican sandbur, caltrop and many other names that cannot be printed here. It is appropriately named because of the hard spike like seed pods that can puncture tires injure animal feet and mouths. It commonly has four spikes that are arranged so that when three of the spikes are on the ground, the fourth will point upward. It can grow in dry areas but thrives in wet summers. The seed heads that you see now will germinate in the pod next spring. One plant can form a dense mat running 20 feet or more and produce up to 5000 seeds. Seeds can survive around 5 years. The most common way that it is controlled in residential areas is by pulling and hoeing. In large landscaped parks, schoolyards etc. herbicides can be useful. Triluralin and Balan applied in the spring prior to emergence will provide partial but not complete control. After it is established the systemic growth regulators like 2,4-D, dicamba and others will work but they will injure other broadleaf plants if they come in contact. Biological control of puncturevine is possible but it might take up to two years to work. There are two weevils: A seed weevil (Miclarinus lareynil) and a stem weevil (Micarlinus lypriformis) that are specific to puncturevine. The seed weevil deposits its eggs in the immature seed head and feed on and destroy the seed before they pupate. The stem weevil lays its eggs in the stems, branches and root crown. They were imported in the mid 1970’s and released in both Arizona and California. Surveys conducted in California indicated that puncturevine decreased by as much as 80% in the years after release. It appeared to be effective in Arizona as well but puncturevine started to build up about 10 years ago and has continued. They both over winter as adults in plant material. Field borders and ditch banks are kept more weed free now than they were in the 60’s and 70’s and overwintering spots have declined. Part of the reason for the increase of puncturevine could be the reduction in overwintering sites. Weevils can be purchased but will be difficult to establish and maintain.
To contact Marco Pena go to:
marcop@ag.arizona.edu