Root weevil
Otiorhynchus spp.
460 host plants
Last updated
The Douglas-fir twig weevil attacks a wide range of hosts, with gray-black adult weevils about 4-5mm long causing mild foliar feeding and creating small shot-like holes. Larvae cause most obvious injury by killing terminal and lateral branches, often resulting in forked tops and distorted branch architecture.
Serious for Christmas tree growers since girdled twigs make trees unmarketable. Keep trees healthy and avoid stress. Remove infested twigs on young trees. For commercial production, monitor terminals in spring and remove affected growth. Maintain vigor through proper irrigation.
Quick Reference
Monitoring & Action
Night inspection with flashlight: Look for adults on foliage May-July, particularly at plant bases. Leaf notching is the visible signal. Dig root zone Feb-March to confirm larval presence (C-shaped white larvae). Threshold: 25+ larvae per sq ft in soil warrants treatment. Check container plants by tipping out and inspecting root ball for larvae.
Adult leaf notching is cosmetic on established plants. Larval root feeding is the primary economic damage. Threshold: 25+ larvae per sq ft in root zone soil. Young plants (1-3 years) and container stock are most vulnerable to root damage. Established landscape plants (5+ years) tolerate moderate larval populations without visible decline.
Larval root feeding is the primary economic damage: causes plant decline, wilting, reduced vigor, and death in severe infestations. Particularly damaging to container nursery stock, rhododendrons, yew, and strawberries where root volume is limited. Adult foliar feeding produces distinctive crescent-shaped notches along leaf margins, which is cosmetic on most ornamentals but can reduce photosynthetic capacity on heavily defoliated plants. Larvae also girdle the root crown of small plants.
Cultural Controls
- Reduce mulch depth to 2 inches around plant crowns and pull back 6 inches from plant base. Deep mulch provides shelter for adults during day. Shallow mulch forces adults to shelter deeper, reducing emergence and feeding likelihood.
- Night hand-picking: Walk garden with flashlight May-June, hand-pick adults off foliage, drop into soapy water. Remove egg-laying females before reproduction. Practical on small shrubs; labor-intensive on large plants. Reduces populations moderately.
Among the most common landscape pests in the Puget Sound region. All three species are well-established. Rhododendrons are the most frequently affected ornamental host in residential landscapes. Maritime soil moisture conditions favor entomopathogenic nematode (H. bacteriophora) efficacy; sustained soil moisture through fall allows nematode survival and reproduction, making biological control more reliable here than in drier climates. Larvae feed through mild winters without a hard dormancy break. Black vine weevil (O. sulcatus) is the dominant species in nursery and landscape settings.