DIAPREPES ROOT WEEVIL
The Diaprepes Root Weevil is a serious pest that feeds on over 270 types of plants. It is especially a threat to citrus and ornamental plants, as well as many types of crops. This weevil is an exotic invader which entered Florida from Puerto Rico in 1964. It reached Texas in 2000, and California in the last few years. The Diaprepes Root Weevil is easy to spot since it is large (3/4ths inch) and colorful (black with yellow or orange stripes).

The adult weevils feed on the edges of leaves, notching semicircular holes. They will also feed on fruit, especially citrus. The larval stage lives in the soil, where they feed on roots and other underground portions of the plant. It is the root damage that eventually kills the infested plant.

Life Cycle
The female Diaprepes Root Weevil will lay about 5,000 eggs during her lifetime. The eggs are laid in leaves, which are then folded and glued together. They hatch in a week to ten days, and drop to the ground where they will burrow to find roots to eat. They prefer moist soil,which speeds up the development process. The larvae go through ten instars over the next 8-15 months. After this, they pupate for another 15-30 days, emerging as adults. Adult weevils are strong flyers, and will live for 3-4 months. They tend to pick a host plant and stay there for the rest of their life.