The black vine weevil, also known as the taxus weevil, has become a serious pest in nurseries across the northern United States since its introduction from Europe approximately 150 years ago. It has a wide range of host plants including: Taxus (yew), rhododendron, hemlock, azalea, euonymus, cyclamen, laurel, gardenia, juniper, impatiens, boxwood, holly, grape, strawberry and various other woody and herbaceous plants.

Black vine weevils have one generation per year (more if in a greenhouse). The adult weevils are all flightless female beetles that disperse only by crawling. Males are not known to occur and females produce eggs without mating. The 5/8 inch weevils are black with light yellowing or gray spotting or checkering on their backs.

The adults feed at night on the foliage of host plants causing crescent- or notch-shaped injuries along the margins of leaves and needles. The notching of the leaves is much less serious than the injury caused by the grubs (larvae) feeding on the roots. Adults hide during the day in leaf litter, other debris or soil under the plants. Black vine weevils overwinter in the soil as larvae or as adults in plant debris, buildings or other sheltered areas.

The adults tend to be more abundant after wet summers and are commonly found in and around houses, being attracted to lights. They do not cause a household problem indoors other than their presence.

Eggs are laid in the soil at the base of host plants and hatch into larvae in about 10 days. The larvae are legless, slightly C-shaped white grubs with brown heads. Larvae feed on the roots of host plants and in heavy infestations may destroy most of the small feeder roots. Larger roots and the crown may be girdled (removal of the bark in a ring) resulting in wilting, yellowing of foliage, and possible death of the plant.

Plants should be examined very carefully before purchase to detect notching of the leaves. Plants showing signs of adult feeding should not be purchased because larvae may be in the soil of the root ball. Many infestations of black vine weevil are the result of purchasing infested plants. If controls are needed, they are best directed at the adults to kill them before they lay eggs. Larvae are usually found deep in the root ball and cannot be reached well with an insecticide to provide good control.

Research by Dr. James Hanula, Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, has determined that adults emerge from the soil from late May to early June but do not begin to lay eggs until three to four weeks after emergence.
Susan Mulgrew, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, has developed a method of monitoring black vine weevil adults using burlap traps. A piece of burlap, approximately four feet by three feet, is bunched lengthwise to create folds and then is wrapped around the base of a host plant. The adult weevil will crawl into the folds of the cloth to hide during the day. The traps can be inspected by gently removing the burlap and examining it for weevils.

For pesticide recommendations call the UConn Home and Garden Education Center at 877-486-6271.

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