Annual Bluegrass Weevil

Annual bluegrass weevils (ABW) are really small -- measuring from 3mm to 5mm in length, which means they are about the size of a small seed or rough grain of sand. Although you can't tell much from just looking at them with the naked eye, they range from reddish-brown to full blackish colorations. They have six legs, antennae, and a snout (thus sometimes called "snout beetles").

 

ABW overwinter in long grasses, leaf piles, pine needles, and other such places. They emerge in the spring to travel to the nearest short-mown turf. There, they mate, lay eggs, and feed. When the larvae hatch, cream-colored and legless, they begin to feed on the stems in which they were laid. These weevils can produce three or more generations per year, which means that infestations can grow quickly.

 

Annual Bluegrass Weevils are a relatively new pest to Virginia, only becoming problematic in the late 2000s. Now, they have spread across the entire state and have become a much bigger challenge in the Richmond area in the last six or seven years.

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To learn more about Annual Bluegrass Weevils, including prevention and removal, check out our blog post