Invertebrates
Vine Weevil
Otiorhynchus sulcatus
In a garden pot, the leaves of a primula are notched at the edges, and beneath the soil a fat white grub is eating through the roots.
Overview
The vine weevil, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, is a small, black, flightless weevil of gardens and nurseries across Europe, and a pest in North America and elsewhere. Its all-female reproduction and root-eating grubs make it one of the most damaging garden insects.
A weevil that needs no mate
Because almost every adult vine weevil is female and can reproduce without mating, a single individual can start a new infestation in a pot.
Status
Not Evaluated, and abundant as a pest.
Vine Weevil: common questions
Are there male vine weevils?
Adults are almost all female and lay fertile eggs without mating, a form of reproduction called parthenogenesis.
What does a vine weevil grub do?
The plump, white, C-shaped grub eats the roots of plants and can kill pot plants and strawberries.
How can vine weevils be controlled?
They can be controlled in gardens and nurseries by watering tiny parasitic nematodes onto the soil.
Can a vine weevil fly?
No, its wing cases are fused together, and it moves by walking, often climbing at night.