Little leaf notcher

Scientific name

Artipus floridanus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Similar species

Sri Lanka weevil, Myllocerus undecimpustulatus
The Sri Lanka weevil has spines along the back femurfemur:
from the base of the insect body, the femur is the third segment of the insect leg, situated between the trochanter and tibia
and the little leaf notcher does not.

Distribution

United States: mainly along the east coast of Florida from the Keys north to Volusia County.

Worldwide: throughout the Caribbean.

Native to Florida and the Caribbean islands.

Diagnostic characteristics

Adults

• Measures 5 - 6.5 mm (0.2 - 0.25 in.) in length.
• Broad snout.
• Grayish-white in color varies to scattering of metallic green scales on a pale background.
• Hardened forewings (elytra) cover the abdomenabdomen:
  one of the three body segments in insects; the most posterior segment containing the heart, reproductive organs, and digestive organs
  .
• Punctures in elytra are deep and obvious.

Larvae

• White, grub-like insects.
• Mature larvae measuring 9.5 mm (0.37 in.) in length.

Eggs

• Eggs masses are an irregular shape.
• Eggs masses contain 12 - 130 eggs.
• Eggs were white to yellow.
• 0.8 mm (0.031 in.) in length and 0.35 mm (0.014 in.) in width.

Hosts

Citrus hosts

All Citrus species and their hybrids.

Non-citrus hosts

The little leaf notcher has over 150 known host plants from many plant families.

Host damage

Leaves

• Adults feeding on foliage results in marginal notching of leaves on young, tender shoots.
• Eggs are laid in masses on mature leaves.
• Egg masses contain a gelatinous substance which protects the eggs and holds the leaves together.

Roots

• Newly hatched larvae fall from the leaves and burrow into soil to feed on the roots of citrus trees.
• Larval feeding results in a weakened and stressed tree.

Biology

This weevil is flightless and is dispersed by transportation of plants. The development from egg to adult ranges from 60 - 120 days with three to four overlapping generations per year. There are 6 larval instars. Larvae feed and pupate underground. Adult lifespan is 160 days. A female lays 1,220 eggs during her lifetime.

References

Duncan, L.W., M.E. Rogers, C.W. McCoy, S.H. Futch, J.H. Graham, and H.N. Nigg. 2011. Florida Citrus Pest Management Guide: Citrus Root Weevils. University of Florida. (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/cg006).

Authors

Weeks, J.A., K.W. Martin, A.C. Hodges, and N.C. Leppla