Ligustrum Weevil
Adult -An adult ligustrum weevil is shiny brown with golden-yellow setae. It has a definite median stripe and an obscure lateral stripe. The prothorax is wider than it is long and strongly rounded on the sides. The insect is about 3.9 mm long, and the rostrum or "bill" is about 1.0 mm long (but varies considerably).
Host Plants -Ligustrum weevils favor Japanese privet but also feed on common privet, glossy privet, and lilac.
Damage -With their chewing mouthparts the ligustrum weevil adults form jagged holes in the leaves while they feed. They often destroy the buds, causing bunchy growth and a tattered appearance.
Life History -Adults emerge from ligustrum seeds beginning in late May and feed on the leaves and pollen. The adult ligustrum weevils are most common in May, June, and early July. Adults feed at night and prefer wilted foliage. About the first of July, eggs are laid in the seed capsules of fruit of privets. A small, slightly curved incision can be seen on the seed where the egg has been deposited. In a few weeks the eggs hatch, and the larvae feed in the fruit or seed capsules throughout the fall and winter. By late April, the larvae are fully developed and they pupate. There is only one generation each year.
Ligustrum weevils may be controlled by shearing off flowers and fruits of Ligustrum. For specific chemical controls, see the current state extension service recommendations.