Black Vine Weevil

The small Black Vine Weevil can wreak havoc on concentrations of plant life - from backyard gardens and open-air nurseries to protected greenhouses and the like.

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Image Credit: Julie W. of Tennessee.

Full-sized image #1 of the Black Vine Weevil

Thumbnail image #1 of the Black Vine Weevil

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Image Credit: Julie W. of Tennessee.

Full-sized image #2 of the Black Vine Weevil

Thumbnail image #2 of the Black Vine Weevil

TAXONOMY:

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Coleoptera

Family: Curculionidae

Genus: Otiorrhynchus

Species: sulcatus

The Black Vine Weevil is a beetle notorious for regular night-time feeding on plant leaves. In large plant-growing operations like nurseries and hothouses, the damage is problematic, so this insect is considered a pest. It eats a variety of plants from yews to rhododendrons. Even its larvae cause damage to plants by nibbling at the roots, and might be found living container plants.

Because the adult feeds at night, scanning for them after sunset using a flashlight is helpful for pinning it down as the leaf-eating culprit. The weevil is black with bumpy texture and fine hairs covering it. The long snout or 'nose' is typical of many weevils as are the bent, elbowed antennae. Check plant stems for holes where eggs may be laid. Controlling a population quickly helps prevent an infestation.©BeetleIdentification.org

The Black Vine Weevil is typically 0.1 inches to 0.2 inches (3mm to 7mm) in size and has the following descriptors / identifiers: blue; black; gray; grey; weevil; small; red.

Color Identification Guide

Various colors commonly associated with this beetle.

Red

Gray

Black

Beetle Anatomy

Sighting Guide (Jan-Dec)

The general likelihood of encountering this beetle based on a given month of the year in the United States.

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

Territorial Area Map (Visual Reference Guide)

The map below showcases (in blue) the states and territories of North America where the Black Vine Weevil may be found (but is not limited to). This sort of data can be useful in seeing concentrations of a particular species over the continent as well as revealing possible migratory patterns over a species' given lifespan. Some species are naturally confined by environment, weather, mating habits, food resources and the like while others see widespread expansion across most, or all, of North America.

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Canadian territory of British Columbia graphic

Canadian territory of New Brunswick graphic

Canadian territory of Newfoundland and Labrador graphic

Canadian territory of Saskatchewan graphic

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

Newfoundland and Labrador

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