Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » Miami, Florida » Subtropical Horticulture Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #379640
Research Project: Mitigation of Invasive Pest Threats to U.S. Subtropical Agriculture

Location: Subtropical Horticulture Research

Title: The hibiscus bud weevil (Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell, Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

Author
item REVYNTHI, ALEXANDRA - University Of Florida
item VELAZQUEZ HERNANDEZ, YISELL - University Of Florida
item RODRIGUEZ, JULEYSY - University Of Florida
item Kendra, Paul
item CARRILLO, DANIEL - University Of Florida
item MANNION, CATHARINE - University Of Florida

Submitted to: Extension Digital Information Source (EDIS)
Publication Type: Government Publication
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/9/2021
Publication Date: 9/23/2021
Citation: Revynthi, A. M., Y. Velazquez Hernandez, J. Rodriguez, P. E. Kendra, D. Carrillo, and C. M. Mannion. 2021. The hibiscus bud weevil (Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell, Coleoptera: Curculionidae). UF/IFAS EDIS. Extension Publication ENY-2069.(https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-IN1328-2021)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-IN1328-2021

Interpretive Summary: N/A

Technical Abstract: The hibiscus bud weevil (Anthonomus testaceosquamosus Linell, Coleoptera: Curculionidae) is a pest of China rose hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., Malvales: Malvaceae). This weevil originates from northeastern Mexico and southern Texas and was found in Florida in May 2017 (Skelley and Osborne 2018). Increased populations in 2019 and 2020 negatively impacted the hibiscus industry in south Florida during the spring shipping period, resulting in large economic losses. Florida is the number one hibiscus producing state, of which most is grown in south Florida. Approximately 20 to 25% of plants sold from Miami-Dade County are hibiscus. The market value of ornamental plants in the county was 697 million (farmgate price) in 2017 (United States Department of Agriculture 2017). Hibiscus is shipped throughout the North American continent. The Hibiscus bud weevil is a regulated pest by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS). As of now, any nursery found with this weevil has to sign and follow a compliance agreement with FDACS to reduce the chance of spreading the weevil.