The adult is 6 to 11 mm long with a short, wide, recurved snout. The weevil’s body surface is frequently covered with soil and a naturally pruinose, clayey covering, giving it a nasty look. The hue ranges from gray to black, with reddish or brown spots occasionally appearing.
The larva is thickest in the center, characteristic of most weevil larvae. The body is white to yellowish, with a tan to brown head and predominantly black mandibles.
Host plant:
However, zoysiagrass and bermudagrass appear to be favored for most grass species.
Damages caused by Hunting Billbug:
Adults and larvae both eat grass. Larvae feed mostly on roots at or near the soil-thatch contact. Adults eat at or near the crown and spend the day in the thatch layer. Infested grass has uneven yellowing patterns where the grass tips may be readily plucked out. Damage to zoysiagrass in the spring can be significant, limiting sod harvest.
Life history and habits:
Most of the details of his life remain unknown. The eggs are placed in the leaf sheaths or on the crown a; they hatch in three to ten days, and the freshly born larvae feed on the inner leaves as they make their way to the roots. Larvae have been discovered at depths of eight inches, and while up to 72 per square foot have been reported, the typical discovery was 10 to 14. After three to five weeks, pupation happens in the soil or the roots. Three to seven days were recorded as the pupal phase. Adults have been discovered yearly, with the peak activity occurring in the fall and winter.
