NEW PEST
by
Pete Anderson

A new member of our group, Bob Lotierzo, who lives in Olivenheim was notified by Dept of Ag folks that a new pest was found near his small vineyard and lemon grove. I pulled up some web info on this weevil which are attached. The county, according to the UT, just placed a quarantine on nursery products being shipped out of the area. Thought this might be of interest to our folks who have vineyards or citrus groves.

Pete

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/citrus/sugarcane_rootstock_borer_weevil.htm

diaprepes root weevil or citrus root weevil (coleoptera: curculionidae),
Description
The adult weevils ( below ) vary in length from 0.95 to 1.90 cm (3/8 to 3/4 inch). They are black, and overlaid by minute white, red orange, and/or yellow scales on the elytra (wing covers). These scales are often rubbed off of the tops of ridges on the elytra giving the appearance of black stripes on a light colored background. Adults emerging from pupae in the soil are armed with a pair of deciduous mandibles which break off as they tunnel through the soil to get above ground. Scars at the site where the deciduous mandibles break off are visible under a microscope.