Harmful Effects of Sweet Potato Weevil

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Photo By Graham Wise from Brisbane, Australia , used under CC-BY-2.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Harmful Effects of Sweet Potato Weevil

Cylas formicarius

A species of Cylas

Sweet Potato Weevil larvae and adults chew and bore into plant tissues, damaging roots and stems, which can retard growth or kill plants if infestation is severe.

What Type of Pest Is Sweet Potato Weevil?

Hurt Plant

Damage Stage

Adults, Larvae

Host Plants Organs

Roots, Stems

Damage Ways

Chew Plant Tissues, Boring Plant Tissues

Damage Reason

Feeding

Damage Level

Mild to Severe

The larval and adult stages of sweet Potato Weevil cause significant harm by chewing and boring into plant tissues, particularly affecting roots and stems. Regardless of the plant species, this feeding behavior can lead to widespread damage, resulting in growth retardation or even plant death if infestation levels are high.

More Insects that are Similar to Sweet Potato Weevil

New zealand giraffe weevil

New zealand giraffe weevils have a distinctive elongated head, and reddish-brown markings on their elytra. They vary enormously in size, from 1.5 - 9 cm total length in males and 1.2 - 5 cm in females. These weevils display extreme sexual dimorphism; males have an elongated rostrum or snout with antennae at the tip, which they use as a weapon for fighting over females. The female new zealand giraffe weevil has a shorter rostrum with antennae about halfway along, which allows her to bite egg-laying holes in tree trunks without damaging her antennae.

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