:. DOA.Specimen

Orchidophilus aterrimus

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Taxonomy

Order	Coleoptera
Family	Curculionidae
Genus	Orchidophilus
Species	aterrimus
Other Scientific Name	Acythopeus aterrimus Acythopeus orchivorus
Common Name	Orchid weevils

Pictures

Adult specimen Orchidophilus aterrimus

Sign / Symptoms

Description
The feeding damage caused by adult weevils on stems, leaves and flowers is quite obvious. Adults eat out small holes in leaves and pseudobulbs to deposit eggs. The larvae that hatch from the eggs bore into the tissues, which may then become discolored. After pupating the emerging adult leaves a hole. The damage caused by the larvae developing inside the orchid can or pseudobulb may not kill the plant, but bulbs often stop their growth and fail to produce flowers.

Description

The feeding damage caused by adult weevils on stems, leaves and flowers is quite obvious. Adults eat out small holes in leaves and pseudobulbs to deposit eggs. The larvae that hatch from the eggs bore into the tissues, which may then become discolored. After pupating the emerging adult leaves a hole. The damage caused by the larvae developing inside the orchid can or pseudobulb may not kill the plant, but bulbs often stop their growth and fail to produce flowers.

Sign of small hole on stem

Damage cause by weevil on stem

Part Affected

Stem

Flower

Leaves

Stage Affected

Vegetative Growing

Flowering

Management And Control

Plants with feeding damage should be immediately destroyed. This may prevent spread of an infestation if done soon enough. Contact sprays must reach the insect. Sprays tested were only effective against adults. Control was effective after 4 months of spraying every 3 weeks.