PEST
 
   NAME
     Bark Weevil
     Aesiotes leucurus
 
   ORDER
     Coleoptera

Description of the Pest

Cypress Bark Weevil adult is grey to dark brown, up to 20 mm long with long legs and whitish marks its ‘knees” and on the end of its wing covers. Its white larvae are legless to 20mm long, both adult and larvae have chewing mouth parts. The adults and larva have chewing mouth parts. 

Pine bark weevil Adult

Pine Bark Weevil (Aesiotes notabilis) adult is dull green, up to 15mm long with wing covers that are bumpy or have protuberances and the legless larvae are white.

Great Pine Weevil (Eurhampus fasciculatus) is a large brown insect up to 60mm long. It has along snout and its lava is white and legless. It is Australia’s largest weevil

Life Cycle
These insects have a Holometabolous life cycle, i.e. an Adult egg, larva and pupa stage

Distribution of the Pest
These insects are found in tropical, sub tropical and temperate areas of Australian and are active throughout the year. Cypress bark weevil is found in NSW and Qld.

Period of Activity
Throughout the year. The larval stage lasts several moths, the pupation time is around one month and the adults live for up to 18 months.

Damage Caused
The females lay eggs in injured upright trees. The larvae feed mainly on the phloem-cambial regions of the plant. Tunnels within the tree are filled with a powdery frass. When fully grown the larva chew out an oval sallow pupation chamber surrounded by long sheds of sap wood. Adults eventually emerge from a round hole about 6mm in diameter to feed on the surrounding bark. The feeding by the larvae can ringbark the branches causing dieback and severe damage often occurs to trees that are stressed from drought or poor quality soils. The adults feed on young bark of the twigs.

Susceptible Plants
Agathis species and Araucaria species are attacked by the Pine Bark Weevil, which is a serious pest of plantation or natural stands.

Araucaria cunninghamii and Agathis species are attacked by the Great Pine Weevil that tunnels deeply into the wood but generally causes little harm.

Cupressus macrocarpa, Cupressus torulosa and Pinus species as well as Callitris spp may be attacked by the Cypress Bark Weevil.

Control
Cultural Control
It is difficult to control on large trees, remove dead branches and destroy. Improve the health of the tree

Biological Control
Birds feed on the larvae but do little to control this pest and may further damage the tree in their search for the larva

Chemical Control
There is no satisfactory method of control involving chemicals for this pest
Note
It is your responsibility by law to read & follow the directions on the label of any pesticide
Amendments by B. Sonsie Dip Hort Sc Burnley