Pine Root Collar Weevil

Although this is more of a pest in Christmas tree plantations, every once in a while we come across pine root collar weevil damage on landscape trees.

Pine root collar weevil will attack both young and large pine trees. Host trees include Scotch pine, Austrian pine, red pine and occasionally white pine.

The larvae feed in the phloem tissue around the root collar, killing the cambium in the process. This girdling of the tree will eventually cause it to die. Pine trees weakened by root collar weevils may fall over and die one to four years after being attacked. Larvae complete development in June and July and adults emerge from July through September. After emerging, adults will feed on the trees for a short time before moving to sites to overwinter. Adult root collar weevils overwinter in the soil and in bark crevices.

Pine root collar weevil damage at base of pine tree trunk. Photo: Steven Katovich, Bugwood.org 

Pine root collar larvae are white with a light brown head. Photo: James B. Hanson, USDA Forest Service, Bugwood.org