Weevils

Curculionoidea

Weevils is a superfamily-level umbrella associated with leaves, roots, stems, fruit, seed, bark, and stored products. Injury includes leaf notching, root pruning, and internal feeding in seed, fruit, stems, or bark. Adult and larval injury are evaluated separately.

Identification

Adults typically have a snout and elbowed antennae; larvae are usually legless grubs. Broad-nosed forms may have a short rostrum. Collect adults and larvae with the injured tissue; a snout alone does not establish management. Root larvae and internal feeders usually require specimens.

Symptoms / Signs

Injury includes leaf notching, root pruning, and internal feeding in seed, fruit, stems, or bark. Fresh larval injury includes live grubs, tunnels, root pruning, or internal feeding. Old scars do not prove activity.

Life Cycle / Process

Weevils share complete metamorphosis, but egg placement and larval habitat vary from roots and stems to seed, fruit, bark, or stored commodities. No single seasonal calendar applies.

Prevention

Inspect incoming stock above and below ground. Remove culls, volunteer hosts, spilled seed, and infested root balls where relevant to Weevils.

Management / Control

Use the most specific root, fruit, seed, bark, or stored-product weevil record available. Recheck adult and larval injury separately.

Procedure Steps

1. Inspect the plant part used by adults and the habitat used by larvae. 2. Collect adults and larvae with host data. 3. Separate adult chewing from larval root or internal injury. 4. Close the Weevils incident after fresh injury declines.

Safety Notes

Use appropriate PPE for soil handling, fruit dissection, and pesticide residues. Confirm the Weevils label, worker intervals, pollinators, and site permissions. Contain regulated weevils and suspect nursery stock before movement.