Annual bluegrass weevil

Definition

A small turfgrass pest weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), Listronotus maculicollis, whose larvae and adults feed preferentially on annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and, increasingly, on other low-mown cool-season grasses. Native to the northeastern United States, its range has expanded markedly since the 2000s to include southeastern Canada, the Midwest, and the mid-Atlantic states. The species is a significant economic pest of golf course putting greens and closely mowed athletic turf, where its stem-boring larvae cause characteristic yellowing and dieback.

Etymology

From the host plant annual bluegrass (Poa annua) plus 'weevil,' the common name for members of the family Curculionidae.

Example

Superintendent first noticed annual bluegrass weevil damage as scattered yellow spots on a putting green in late April, with adults having overwintered in leaf litter along nearby woodlines.

Synonyms

• ABW
• Listronotus maculicollis

Related Terms

• annual bluegrass
• turfgrass pest
• Curculionidae
• stem borer
• Overwintering
• Poa annua

Usage Notes

Often abbreviated ABW in turf management literature. Not to be confused with other Listronotus species or general 'bluegrass' billbugs (genus Sphenophorus). The common name reflects historical host specificity, though the species now damages creeping bentgrass and perennial ryegrass with increasing frequency. Adults are active early in spring and are often targeted with preventive insecticides before egg-laying begins.