Naupactus leucoloma (formerly Graphognathus leucoloma).

Larvae are up to 12 mm long, are white to grey with a brown head, legless, have a slightly curved body and are soil dwelling. Adult weevils are 12 mm long, are grey-brown with a white band along the side of their body and have a short snout. Adult weevils cannot fly and emerge from the soil in summer.

Adult whitefringed weevils may be confused with sitona and vegetable weevils but are larger and more prominently striped.

Pulse crops attacked - peanuts and chickpeas. Other crops include lucerne and maize.

This species has a one-year life cycle in northern Australia. Eggs are laid in sticky clumps in plant debris at the base of plants. Hatching larvae burrow downwards in the soil, attacking roots and pods.

Larvae chew into lateral and taproots causing death or reduced vigour. Larvae also feed on peanuts, reducing yield and quality. Infestations are usually in patches. Adult weevils feed on leaves but cause little damage.

Major damage occurs in autumn-winter. Damage is often worse when two susceptible crops are grown in sequence. In young crops, look for leaf damage. If significant leaf damage is observed, check for adults at the base of plants. If seedling deaths occur, look for larvae under plants in the soil.

Take action if significant adult activity is observed in seedling crops.

Chemical control of whitefringed weevil adults may be cost-effective. Foliar sprays are ineffective against larvae. For current chemical control options see Pest Genie or APVMA.

Avoid successive plantings of crops susceptible to whitefringed weevils, such as peanuts following potatoes (as occurs in North Queensland), or chickpeas following peanuts (as occurs in southern Queensland), or peanuts following lucerne. The worst whitefringed weevil damage occurs where large larvae from preceding susceptible crops attack seedlings in following susceptible crops. Crops close to lucerne are at risk from weevils walking from that crop.