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common name: twobanded Japanese weevil
scientific name: Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus Roelofs (Insecta: Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Introduction - Synonymy - Distribution - Description - Biology - Host Plants - Damage - Management - Selected References

Introduction (Back to Top)

The twobanded Japanese weevil, Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus (Roelofs), first collected in the United States in 1914 near Philadelphia, was most likely introduced with infested nursery stock from Japan (Wheeler and Boyd 2004). With a host range of over 100 plant species, the twobanded Japanese weevil is recognized in the northeastern and midwestern United States as an important pest of landscape plantings. Although not a pest of major concern yet in the southeastern states, it is likely to extend its range due to movement of nursery stock. In July 2005, two specimens of the twobanded Japanese weevil were collected at Chipley, Florida, which is in Washington county (Thomas 2005).

Adult twobanded Japanese weevil

Figure 1. Adult twobanded Japanese weevil, Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus (Roelofs). Photograph by Dr. James R. Baker, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University.

Synonymy (Back to Top)

Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus Roelofs
Callirhopalus bifasciatus (Roelofs)
Pseudocneorhinus setosus of authors, not Roelofs

Distribution (Back to Top)

The twobanded Japanese weevil is native to China, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and eastern Siberia (Wheeler and Boyd 2004). It is now established in the eastern United States, and occurs in New England, the mid-Atlantic states, Indiana, and Illinois (Wheeler and Boyd 2004). Its distribution in the southeastern United States was studied by Wheeler and Boyd (2004) who reported that the weevil was first collected Alabama in 1970, Georgia in 1959, North Carolina in 1955, and South Carolina in 1966.

Its presence in Florida was confirmed in July 2005 (Thomas 2005). It must be noted, however, that the order of detection may not reflect the order of establishment because of the lack of knowledge of the time lag between establishment and detection. As the weevil is flightless, it is unlikely to spread to long distances by jumping, and a pattern of dispersal in this manner is not evident in the mapped records of the southeastern region.

Description (Back to Top)

Adult: The adult twobanded Japanese weevil is stout, convex, and pear-shaped with a short, blunt snout, and elytra much broader than the pronotum. It is about 5 mm long, and has a body covered with brown and grey scales that form bands across the elytra (Thomas 2005). The elytra are fused and due to lack of flight wings, the adult weevils cannot fly. The weevils feed during the day but are less apparent because of their subdued brown coloration and markings (Smith 1955).

Dorsal view of an adult twobanded Japanese weevil

Figure 2. Dorsal view of an adult twobanded Japanese weevil, Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus (Roelofs). Photograph by Dr. Michael Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.

Lateral view of an adult twobanded Japanese weevil

Figure 3. Lateral view of an adult twobanded Japanese weevil, Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus (Roelofs). Photograph by Dr. Michael Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry.

 

Immatures: A variable number of small, cream colored eggs are laid within egg pods formed on leaf margins. Egg pods are formed by adult females folding the leaf margin and pressing the edges with their legs (Zepp 1978).

Eggs of twobanded Japanese weevil

Figure 4. Eggs of twobanded Japanese weevil, Pseudocneorhinus bifasciatus (Roelofs), on grass blade that had been glued together by the adult female. Photograph by University of Georgia archives; http://www.forestryimages.org/.

Larva and pupa of P. bifasciatus have been described by Marrone and Zepp (1979). Fully-grown larvae are white, legless, and 7.5 to 8.5 mm (~ 3/10 inch) long. The pupa is white with yellow-brown setae, and is 6.25 mm long.

Biology (Back to Top)

Twobanded Japanese weevils reproduce parthenogenetically, and males are generally not encountered in the United States although they are known to occur in China (Wheeler and Boyd 2004). The following detail of the biology and lifecycle of the twobanded Japanese weevil is based on a study by Allen (1959) under the northeastern climate. The duration of life cycle and seasonal activity may vary in the southeastern region but has not been reported.

In the northeastern United States, twobanded Japanese weevils overwinter as adult, egg or larva, and has one generation per year (univoltine). With the approach of the warm weather in spring, the overwintering population of adult weevils become active and resume feeding. Eggs are laid from middle of May through October. The peak period for oviposition is from September to early October, and oviposition stops by November.

Eggs are deposited within the leaf-folds along the margins, the free edges of which are sealed to form a 'pod.' The egg pods bear a series of depressions along the margins, which are marks left by the clamping action of the tibia (Zepp 1978). Twobanded Japanese weevils are known to oviposit in freshly fallen leaves or on leaf fragments dropped as a result of feeding. An egg pod contains one to nine eggs with an average of 2.6 eggs (Allen 1959) or five eggs (Zepp 1978). Adult fecundity appears to be influenced by the type of foliar diet. For example, under laboratory conditions, adults on a foliage diet of multiflora rose, Rosa multiflora (Thunb.) had a fecundity of about 355 eggs as compared to seven eggs on mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia (Maer 1983).

Eggs hatch in 14 to 18 days. The newly hatched larvae drop to the ground and burrow into the soil to feed on the roots. Larval activity is generally limited to the soil under the canopy of the adult-infested host plant. Allen (1959) encountered as high as 150 larvae per square feet in the soil samples taken from underneath the canopies of heavily infested privet (Ligustrum) hedges. Larvae were found at depths ranging from one to nine inches but were more concentrated between three and six inches below the surface.

Not much is known about the larval development in the soil, except the observation by Allen (1959) that by early May some larvae of the previous midsummer brood undergo pupation. Adults emerge from late June to early July and eventually outnumber the overwintering population. The combined population cause extensive damage to foliage. By the middle of October, the weevils are not observed on the host plant and are most likely hibernating. They hibernate in debris under infested plants.

Host Plants (Back to Top)

Twobanded Japanese weevils are known to feed on over 100 species of plants (Boyd and Wheeler 2004). Despite an extremely broad host range, their limited presence on a number of known hosts suggests that host suitability for feeding, egg development and egg laying may vary substantially (Maier 1983). In a field sampling to discover the relative abundance of different species of weevils on various hosts, Maier (1986) obtained higher number of catches on multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora).

Other hosts recorded by Marrone and Zepp (1979) include azalea (Rhododendron), privet (Ligustrum), Forsythia, Abelia, Viburnum, Acer, Morus, Populus, Sedum, Lythrum, Campsis, Thunbergia, and Coleus. Twobanded Japanese weevils are especially found in cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), Pyracantha, Euonymus, barberry (Barberis) (Day 2003). Other hosts include ash (Fraxinus), burr marigold (Bidens), Camellia, dogwood (Cornus), elm (Ulmus), fern, hemlock (Tsuga), holly (Ilex), lilac (Syringa), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), rose (Rosa), Spirea, strawberry (Fragaria), Weigela, Koelreuteria, and Deutzia.

Damage (Back to Top)

Both adults and larvae cause plant damage. Adults cause defoliation, whereas the larvae live in the soil and destroy the roots. Adults chew leaf tissues at the margins and create notches. Initial damage by the overwintering population of adults is quickly masked by rapidly growing spring flushes, but severe defoliation can occur when new adults emerge. Past records show that twobanded Japanese weevils are capable of stripping privet (Ligustrum) hedges, 50 feet in length, and can cause irreparable damage to hemlocks (Britton 1932). Typically, twobanded Japanese weevils are noticed only when large population cause extensive defoliation.

Management (Back to Top)

The twobanded Japanese weevils can be collected and destroyed if infestations are not extensive. They feed during the day, and when disturbed, quickly drop to the ground and remain still or feign death. This behavior makes it convenient to collect them by tapping or shaking the plant. A white sheet of cloth or paper could be laid out under the shrub to catch them as they drop.

Chemical control recommendations against the twobanded Japanese weevils for Florida are not available. However, extension recommendations are available from other states that have populations of this weevil (Day 2014). The best timing for insecticide sprays is when the overwintering adults resume their feeding activity in spring, i.e. when the first signs of leaf damage are observed. Close monitoring for the first signs of foliar damage is therefore important for management.

Selected References (Back to Top)

Authors: Jamba Gyeltshen and Amanda Hodges, University of Florida
Photographs: Dr. Michael Thomas, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry; James R. Baker, Professor Emeritus, North Carolina State University; University of Georgia.
Illustration: Division of Plant Industry
Web Design: Kay Weigel
Publication Number: EENY-361
Publication Date: December 2005. Latest Revision: January 2019.

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Featured Creatures Editor and Coordinator: Dr. Elena Rhodes, University of Florida