Blueberry-Obscure root weevil

Sciopithes obscurus

Pest description and crop damage Adults are predominantly gray with a wavy brown line across the wing covers. They are about 6 to 8 mm long. Larvae resemble strawberry root weevil larvae in appearance and life cycle and also feed on roots. Adults feed on foliage; they cause little damage to leaves but may contaminate fruit in mechanically harvested fields.

Biology and life history Weevils overwinter as larvae in the soil. Feeding may occur throughout mild winters. From April to June, larvae pupate, and adult emergence occurs. Unlike other weevil species found in blueberries, the obscure root weevil is known to stay in the plant foliage during the day and remain inactive, becoming active and feeding at night. However, some obscure root weevils do migrate to the soil during the day and climb up to feed on foliage at night. Adult weevils cannot fly, but walk or are carried from one location to another by equipment. All adults are females capable of laying hundreds of eggs.

Eggs are laid in clusters in or on the soil from June to September. The eggs hatch and the larvae immediately wriggle through the soil to begin feeding on roots. There is one generation per year.

Scouting and thresholds Observe leaves for notching from adult feeding in early summer. Controls should be undertaken soon after adult feeding is observed, but before egg laying occurs, generally about four weeks. Presence of adults can be confirmed by night inspection of foliage on warm, still evenings. Or, look for adults during the day in the foliage or by looking through debris at the base of the plant for those weevils that have migrated. Wrapping the trunks of the plant with cardboard will provide a refuge that can be checked easily in the early morning.

Management-biological control

  • beneficial nematodes-Heterorhabditis spp. and Steinernema spp., have shown some effectiveness in controlling larvae when applied as label directs, as a drench in the fall. Nematodes must be placed in the root zone where weevil larvae are.

See also:

Management-cultural control

Cultivating soil in April-May can eliminate overwintering larvae before planting. Use a cereal cover crop, as small grains are not a host for root weevils.

Management-chemical control: HOME USE

No products are registered for control of this pest in the home garden.

Management-chemical control: COMMERCIAL USE

  • esfenvalerate (Asana XL) at 0.05 lb ai/A. PHI 14 days. Apply pre-bloom or post-bloom only. Asana can act like a bee repellent; do not apply within 7 days of pollination. Label allows use for weevil control in Washington and Oregon only. Restricted use pesticide. (Group 3)
  • malathion (several brands) at 1.25 lb ai/A. PHI 1 day. EC formulations may leave an oily film on fruit when used near or during harvest. Apply at night, usually between dusk and midnight, on warm, calm evenings. Control is poor when applied by day or on cold, windy nights. Toxic to bees; do not apply when bees are foraging.