Vine Weevil

Question 1

Vine Weevil (Black vine weevil)
Description

Answer 1

Adults - Black in colour, nocturnal, approx 1cm in length. Females do not fly.
Larvae are soil dwelling, white or cream with darker head, 9mm long, legless and typically curled into ‘C’ shape.

Question 2

Vine weevil - adults

Symptoms

Answer 2

Notches around leaf margins - disfigures evergreens

Question 3

Vine weevils - larvae

Symptoms

Answer 3

Feed on feeder roots and bark of large roots.
Feeding on roots causes death on shoots.
Larvae feeding on roots quickly weakens plant - plant wilts and lacks vigour.
Heavy infestation can cause plant death.
Can lead to major loss of stock in nurseries.

Question 4

Vine weevil - life cycle.

Answer 4

Infestations occur in spring from overwintering pupal stage and autumn from summer pupal stage.

All stage of vine weevil life cycle can be found on plants in winter and spring.

Although male vine weevils do occur but mist are female and reproduction is parthenogenetic.

Females lay eggs in soil/compost in spring/summer.

Once hatched, larvae feed for several months before they pupate.

Adults hatch in autumn under protected cropping and in following spring outside.

Question 5

Vine weevil - spread

Answer 5

Adults seek shelter in debris and soil waste so hygiene is important.
Plants should be bought from reliable nurseries and checked when they are purchased.