Do you that there more than 60,000 species of weevils in the world. Weevils are very sneaky, and they are challenging to eradicate, especially when you see their numbers dropping whereas they are somewhere hiding. The red palm weevil feeds on the red type of palm trees, date, coconut palm.
The vine weevils found on container plants and ornamental, these are considered to be some major pest in the garden. Their adult eats the leaves of this plant while the grubs invade the root, eventually causing decay and death. The root weevil is another weevil that is a major garden pest causing decay and death of leaves and root majorly. Others include rice weevils, maize weevils, bean/pea weevils. Their damage along the edges of leaves are often mistaken for that of a grasshopper.
They are often found in agricultural areas as pests. Scientists believe that weevil was accidentally transported when grains were transported from Europe to America in the late 19th century. Weevils are found in stored dry goods, and they do not look for food. They easily what to feed on anywhere they found themselves. Weevils are believed to be attracted moisture, cooler temperatures and they do not cause damage to property, so they can be vacuumed if they bother you.
Technically weevils are also beetles, unlike the beetles most species of weevils can fly. Since 1978, weevil eradication programs have allowed full cultivation to resume in many regions. The female adult weevils lay about 200 eggs over 12 days. The life cycle from eggs to adult takes about three weeks during the summer. Under optimum condition, research has shown that they cannot survive more a temperature of fifty degrees Celsius. Extreme heat and drought are a strong limitation on the population of weevils.
Furthermore, its natural predators include fire ants, insects, spiders, birds and the parasitic wasps. It remains the most destructive pest in the world, especially North America. The weevils were detected in Brazil in 1983, and it is estimated that about 90% of the cotton farmed in Brazil is contaminated.
During the 90s, the weevil spread to Paraguay and Argentina. DDT was initially extremely effective against weevils, but US weevils populations developed resistant by the mid-1950s, while other control means have been investigated. Insecticides have always remained the main control methods. In the 1980s entomologist have studied the use of weevil resistance strain as a control method and was very effective.
Weevils have highly specialized bi-lobe feet, with which they use to grip to the smooth surface of grains, leaves and ornamental crops. Female weevils produce pheromones to surrounding males outside and will eventually bond with the male when they come out of its grain/seed for reproduction. The rice weevil is considered to be the most destructive because of its ability to fly and its long life span. Weevils cause extensive damage to food stored when they are not disturbed. Their population grows and expand to nearby stored food if they are not controlled. However, consulting your local pest control operator near you will save you a lot of money and time getting rid of pests from your home all by yourself.