Grey-banded leaf weevil

Grey-banded leaf weevil (Ethemaia sellata) larvae have been identified for consultant, Sandy Biddulph (Biddulph Rural Consulting). They were found in several pasture paddocks around Stockinbingal, in the South West Slopes district of New South Wales. Sandy says they have caused heavy defoliation of marshmallow weed, but at this stage no damage to pasture plants is evident. Consultant, Tim Condon (Delta Agribusiness), has also reported small legless grubs wiping out large areas of marshmallow around Harden, in the South West Slopes of New South Wales. These are likely to be larvae of the grey-banded leaf weevil.

Little is currently known about the feeding ecology of the grey-banded leaf weevil. It is thought that they may surface feed on malvaceous weeds and some ornamental plants. They have been recorded as common in gardens, and both adults and larvae are known to attack several ground vegetables. Although the grey-banded leaf weevil is only regarded as a minor crop pest, there have been recent reports of this species attacking some winter crops including canola and lupins. No insecticides are currently registered to control grey-banded leaf weevils, however synthetic pyrethroids used at 400mL/ha against other pests have been reported to provide adequate control.

Larvae of the grey-banded leaf weevil are legless, up to 12 mm long and yellow-green in colour with a darker coloured head. They are easily mistaken for vegetable weevil larvae. Adults are approximately 8 mm long, grey in colour with distinctive raised markings (bumps) and a white area on the bottom covering approximately 1/4 of the wing covers.

Click here for images of the grey-banded leaf weevil and refer to PestFacts Issue No. 3 for more information.