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Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

Ginger weevil (357)

Photo 1. Rot on yam caused by the ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus.

Photo 2. Mature larvae of the ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus.

Photo 3. Larva of the ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus, showing the abdominal segments and folds.

Photo 4. Pupa of the ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus.

Photo 5. Adult ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus.

Photo 6. Adult ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus, from above, showing the faint white markings on the wing cases and their blunt ends.

Photo 7. Adult ginger weevil, Elytroteinus geophilus, from below, showing the deep groove or slot between the front legs.

Summary

Narrow distribution. Common in Pacific island countries on wide range of crops, including ginger, chillies, eggplant, kava, passionfruit, root crops.
Larvae burrow into roots, stems and storage organs.
Adult weevil and West Indian sweet potato weevil (WISPW) similar. Ginger weevil covered in fine scales, with no clear white pattern on wing cases; WISPW with thinner scales and clear white markings on the wing cases (see Fact Sheet no. 119).
Cultural control: check planting material for carry-over larvae; treating ginger and yams for nematodes (hot water at 51°C for 10 mins) will kill weevils; check at harvest and avoid storing infested roots, corms, tubers.
Chemical control: thiram/latex mixture painted on passionfruit cankers (Samoa). Possibly, dipping planting materials in imidacloprid.

Common Name

Ginger weevil, Fiji lemon weevil.

Scientific Name

Elytroteinus geophilus; previously, Elytroteinus subtruncatus.

AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Elytroteinus subtruncatus (Fairmaire). Fiji Ginger weevil. Knowledge Master. University of Hawai'i, Manoa. (http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/type/elytrote.htm); and from Gerlach WWP (1988) Plant diseases of Western Samoa. Samoan German Crop Protection Project, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) Gmbh, Germany. Photos 1&5 Mani Mua, SPC, Sigatoka Research Station, Fiji. Photos 2&4 Chris Reid & John Martin, Australian Museum, Sydney. Photos 3,6&7 MAF Plant Health and Environment Laboratory (2010) Fijian Ginger Weevil (Elytroteinus geophilus). PaDIL - (https://www.padil.gov.au).

Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.

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