Bug FAQPalmetto Weevil
Rhynchophorus cruentatus · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Dryophthoridae
Source: Wikipedia
It is the biggest weevil found in North America. It is native to Florida and also occurs as far west as southern Texas and north to South Carolina. Its larvae bore into palms and can kill the tree.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It infests palms and is regarded as a pest.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Because it destroys palm trees, it is considered a pest for homeowners with palms.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
For valuable palms, apply an insecticidal crown drench twice a year as a preventive measure.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It attacks stressed or transplanted palm trees.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
The grub stage feeds inside the palm, eventually killing it.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
From egg to adult takes about 84 days.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Florida and has been found as far west as southern Texas and north to South Carolina.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
It is the only palm-weevil species in the continental United States and the largest weevil, so other weevils are easily distinguished.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 10 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, North Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I prevent palmetto weevil damage to my palms?
Treat high-value palms with an insecticidal crown drench twice yearly.
Source: Wikipedia
When are palmetto weevils most active?
Adults are most active during late spring and early summer.
Source: Wikipedia
What part of the palm does the weevil damage?
The larvae tunnel into the trunk and can kill the tree.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Dryophthoridae)
Rice WeevilSitophilus oryzaeCan damage your home
Wheat WeevilSitophilus granariusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Red Palm WeevilRhynchophorus ferrugineusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Hunting BillbugSphenophorus venatus
Cocklebur WeevilRhodobaenus quinquepunctatus
South American Palm WeevilRhynchophorus palmarumDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhynchophorus_cruentatus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.