Other sweetpotato weevils

Larval tunnels and storage root flesh discolouration (N. Smit).

Adult Cylas puncticollis (N. Smit).

• What they do to plants

- larvae feed and tunnel into the vines and storage roots.

- adult weevils feed on the tender buds, leaves, stems and storage roots.           

• What you see on  plants

- damage is characterized by small feeding and ovipositional punctures on the surface and larval

tunnels filled with frass on the tissues.      

- larval feeding inside the vines causes malformation, thickening, drying and cracking.

• Larval stage is  the most destructive stage.

• Severely damaged roots become bitter, emit terpene odour, and are less marketable if not unmarketable.

• Early detection can be done by checking for swollen vine bases and infested exposed roots.

• Hot, dry weather favours weevil development.

• Confined to Africa; most important pests in most parts of Africa

Taxonomy

Economic importance

Geographical distribution

Damage

Morphology

Biology and ecology

Detection and inspection

Management

References

View full fact sheet

C. formicarius fact sheet