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Pacific Pests & Pathogens - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Oribius weevils (273)

Photo 1. Grey weevil, Oribius species damage to taro. Notice the chewed leaf stalks, and downard bending of the leaves.

Photo 2. Grey weevil, Oribius species damage to taro, showing chewed leaf stalks.

Photo 3. Grey weevil, Oribius inimicus.

Photo 4. Grey weevil, Oribius inimicus.

Photo 5. Grey weevil, Oribius destructor.

Photo 6. Grey weevil, Oribius destructor (compared to Oribius inimicus the body is shiny black).

Photo 7. "Thickhead", Crassocephalum crepidioides, a common host of grey weevils, Oribius species.

Summary

Narrow distribution. Papua New Guinea, Australia. Major pests of avocado, capsicum and citrus in Papua New Giuinea, but also on many other vegetables and fruit trees.
Eggs laid in soil. Larvae feed on roots, Adults dark 4-7 mm, do not fly, but are highly mobile.
Cultural control: avoid overlapping crops; avoid land where weevils severe last crop; crop rotation, using tolerant crops, e.g., shallots, carrots, cabbage, asparagus, or use them as intercrops or borders; weed.
Chemical control: synthetic pyrethroids at ¼ does recommended; apply early morning or later afternoon when weevils are on the plants.

Common Name

Grey weevils, oribius weevils

Scientific Name

Oribius species. Note that there are more than 50 species, of which seven are crop pests. Oribius inimicus and Oribius destructor are the two most common and damaging grey weevils of crops in the highlands of Papua New Guinea.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Wesis P, et al. (2010) Host use and crop impacts of Oribius Marshall species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in Eastern Highlands Province, Papua New Guinea. Buttetin of Entomological Research 100: 133-143; and from Impact and managment of Oribius weevils in Papua New Guinea. Project CP/2001/032. ACIAR, Canberra (http://aciar.gov.au/project/cp/2001/032). Photos 3-6 Walker K (2006) Oribius weevil (Oribius inimicus and Oribius destructor). (PaDIL - (http://www.padil.gov.au). Photo 7 Thickhead, Crassocephalum crepidioides. Brisbane City Council weed identification tool. (http://weeds.brisbane.qld.gov.au/weeds/thickhead).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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