NC State Extension Publications

Description and Biology

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Attelabus bipustulatus is a small, shiny, chunky, black weevil with two bright red spots, one on each wing cover. A very similar insect, the oak roller weevil, Homoeolabus analis, is also small, shiny, and chunky, but is burnt orange except for its black head and legs. These weevils are less than ¼ inch long. The egg is tiny and shaped like a rugby football. Leafrolling weevil grubs are legless, curved, plump insects with brown heads. These leafrolling weevils provide for their offspring in a remarkable way: First the weevils chew slits on either side of the midrib. Then the egg is laid near the tip. The leaf is then folded along the midrib and then rolled into a neat leaf bedroll (the nidus) with the egg near the center. The grub hatches and feeds on the leaf tissue inside the cylinder and eventually pupates inside the roll. Sometime later a new generation of leafrolling weevils emerges to complete their life cycle. There may be more than one generation per year.

A leafroller weevil, Attelabus bipustulatus

A leafroller weevil, Attelabus bipustulatus, inspecting its offspring's nidus.

A typical leafroller weevil nidus.

A typical leafroller weevil nidus.

Homoeolabus analis

Homoeolabus analis is a leafroller weevil more common near the coast.

A leafroller weevil, Homoeolabus analis, preparing its offspring

A leafroller weevil, Homoeolabus analis, preparing its offspring's nidus.

A leafroller weevil nidus that fell from the host oak tree.

A leafroller weevil nidus that fell from the host oak tree.

Host Plants

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Leafrolling weevils have been observed on 16 species of oaks and two species of chestnut.

Residential Recommendations

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These weevils are seldom abundant enough to be considered pests. Confining some of the leaf rolls in a jar inside the house will allow the witnessing of the miracle of the wheel of existence for these tiny, attractive insects. If the weevils have gotten way out of hand, they should be susceptible to pyrethroid insecticide labeled for home landscape use. Treating early in the season should protect trees for most of the growing season, although it seems a shame to kill such attractive and interesting insects.

References

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For assistance with a specific problem, contact your local Cooperative Extension Center.

This Factsheet has not been peer reviewed.

Author

Professor Emeritus
Entomology and Plant Pathology

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Publication date: March 17, 2017
Revised: Dec. 22, 2021

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