Insecticide for Weevils

Eliminate weevils with insecticides.

Weevils appear throughout the United States, destroying various types of plants from cotton to roses. Stop weevil infestations with insecticides -- powerful chemicals designed to kill them.

Identification

The boll weevil (Anthonomous grandis) is a small, brownish-gray weevil that infests cotton, destroying crops if not controlled. Meanwhile, the rose weevil (Merhynchites spp.) is a reddish-black weevil that attacks roses.

Effects

Boll weevils are historically the most damaging pest to cotton, according to Oregon State University. At one time, weevils infested every acre of cotton grown. Rose weevils feed on rosebuds by drilling holes into them and then laying their eggs inside the buds.

Prevention/Solution

The use of insecticide is necessary to control weevils. The pesticide malathion is an effective and safe way to kill weevils, according to the EPA. Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide that acts as a nerve agent in insects. It kills insects that chew and suck on plants, like the weevil, according to Cornell University.

References

• Oregon State University: Boll Weevil
• University of California: Roses: Insect and Mite Pests and Beneficials
• EPA: Boll Weevil Aggregation Pheromone
• Cornell University: Malathion