BEETLES

Sweet Potato Weevil, Cylas formicarius

Order: Coleoptera (Beetles)

Size: Up to 1⁄4"

Habitat: Areas with plants in the Convolvulaceae family, including sweet potato and morning glory

Range: Southeastern United States

The Sweet Potato Weevil is a member of a very large family of beetles known as the “snout beetles” or “weevils,” characterized by a thin, elongate snout projection from the head. This quite unusual-looking species is relatively thin and elongate, with a metallic blue-black abdomen, red-orange thorax and legs, and a black head and snout. The larvae are cream colored and wormlike, passing through several molting stages before reaching adult form. They can be a significant pest on crops of sweet potatoes, as they bore through stems, roots, and tubers, aided by their long snouts, causing decay and disease.