Black Vine Weevil

Otiorhynchus sulcatus (Fabricius)

Injury:

The black vine weevil (BVW) is a pest of over 100 landscape plants including taxus, hemlock, rhododendron, euonymus, azalea andromeda and many herbaceous species. It is a problem in nurseries as well as in home ornamental plantings.

The most severe damage is caused by the grubs (larval stage) which feed on the roots and underground stems. They may girdle the root crown. Larvae even feed on roots of houseplants that spent the summer out of doors near infested plants. The symptoms are of general plant unthriftiness including stunting and yellowing or off-color foliage. Root feeding often results in death of the plant. Plants may fail to put out new growth in the spring as a result of the root injury, or may put out the first flush of new growth, and subsequently die. Unfortunately, it is when plants are close to death that home gardeners often first notice the problem.

Adult weevils feed on foliage, chewing out characteristic notches (Figure 1 & 2), and while foliar damage is often not severe, it can be unsightly. Adults may also be considered nuisance pests when found indoors, especially during the winter months. Some adults overwinter, seeking shelter near foundations and occasionally wander inside. Removing by hand when seen is the best control for a few individuals inside the home.

Description:

The adult is a black wingless weevil (snout beetle) about 3/8" (10 mm) long (Figure 3.). All of the weevils are females and they reproduce parthenogenetically (reproduction by development of an unfertilized egg). Since the weevils do not fly, they disperse chiefly by walking, although they may be transported by man with infested plant material. The weevils feed at night and hide under leaf litter or in the soil during the day. When disturbed, the adults feign death.
The grub is a legless, white (with a brown head) larva with a wrinkled c-shaped appearance (Figure 4.). It is found in the soil under host plants.

Life History:

There is one generation of the black vine weevil each year. Adults usually emerge between mid-May and late July and live for several months. A few adults may overwinter and be found in early spring. Weevils feed for 3-4 weeks before females begin to deposit eggs. Eggs are dropped indiscriminately to the ground under the plants (as many as 500 per female!) over her entire life. If houseplants are placed under shrubs during the summer, eggs may be deposited on the soil of the containers. Ten to 14 days later the grubs hatch and burrow down into the soil searching out roots to feed on.

Larval feeding occurs through the growing season and when colder temperatures arrive, grubs burrow deeper in the ground to overwinter. They resume feeding the following spring for a short while before they enter the pupal stage. Pupation lasts about 1 month and adults are most abundant from early June to mid-July.

Management:

Monitor plantings: Look for symptoms of feeding injury by adults. Injury (notches in leaves) will be easy to see on broad-leaved evergreens such as rhododendron, but may be hard to find on narrow-leafed ones such as Taxus. Weevils may be feeding on leaf edges, especially near the trunk. Use a flashlight at night (adults are nocturnal) during early to mid-June to inspect plants for the presence of weevils. Or use a burlap cloth gathered in folds around the base of plants which provides a hiding place for adults during the daytime; gently unfold to see if adults are present. Ideally you want to detect the start of adult emergence activity so that you can accurately time a spray for adults when most have emerged, but before egg laying begins.

Pit fall traps (you can easily make one by placing a paper cup in the ground, with the rim at soil level, and bending a piece of paper to make a cone in the top (Figure 5 & 6) so the insect slides down into the cup) or beating sheets (white cloth placed under the plant and the foliage is "beat" with a stick) are also sometimes used to monitor adult activity.
Check traps at least twice a week for insects (or other critters that may accidentally fall in).

Hand removal of weevils can be effective especially in small plantings or for individual plants. Where possible, quarantine plants with leaf notches.

Treat for the adults before egg laying occurs, 2 to 3 weeks after emergence. The insecticide acephate (Orthene) is recommended for the control of black vine weevil adults on Taxus, Rhododendron and other ornamental plants. Two applications should be made, one 3 weeks after adults are first seen (about mid-June, 10 days earlier on Long Island) and a second 3 weeks later. Insecticide applications should be made late in the day (weevils are nocturnal feeders).
Be sure to follow the label directions when using any pesticide.

Some rhododendrons and azaleas show resistance to weevil feeding. Those that have a rolled edge may be difficult for weevils to feed upon.

Insect parasitic nematodes are a promising biological control for larvae. They provide an alternative to chemical control; but certain conditions must be met to have success with them. To be effective there must be adequate soil moisture and temperatures must be warm enough in the top 5 inches of soil (60^oF. or higher) for the nematodes to actively search out the larvae.

Research has shown that certain strains of the Heterorhabditis sp. nematodes are very effective if the above conditions are met. Nematodes need to be applied when the larvae are present in mid to late summer. They have been recommended especially in warm greenhouse container culture for root weevil control.

If houseplant roots are found to be infested with larvae, discarding the plant may be the best practice. Washing off the roots and repotting might be an alternative, but success will depend on the amount of damage already done (often too late by the time one notices it).

Prepared by: Carolyn Klass, Senior Extension Associate, Cornell University and Warren T. Johnson, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 3/79, revised 3/93, reviewed 9/95.

References: “IPM for the Black Vine Weevil on Ornamental Plants,” Shelia Darr, IPM Practitioner, Volume XIII, Number 5/6, May/June 1991; Monitoring Adult Black Vine Weevil and Strawberry Root Weevil in Field grown crops using burlap traps, Cooperative Extension, University of Massachusetts, Prepared by Dr. S.M. Mulgrew; “Nematodes Control Root Weevils,” S. Paul Wilhelm, President, Nematec. in Readers Column: IPM Practitioner, IX(2), Feb. 1987; “Black Vine Weevil Management in Nursery Plants,” M.W. Stimmann, H.K. Kaya, T.M. Burland, J.P. Studdert, California Agriculture, January-February 1985.


This publication contains pesticide recommendations. Changes in pesticide regulations occur constantly and human errors are still possible. Some materials mentioned may no longer be available, and some uses may no longer be legal.

Recommendations and pesticide use may vary depending on on which state you live in.

Read the Label before Applying Any Pesticide.

TK: 2/2006

Download a PDF of this tip.