Pest profile

Hollyhock Weevil

Rhopalapion longirostre · Coleoptera: Brentidae[2]

The hollyhock weevil is a tiny, long-snouted gray weevil that chews small holes in hollyhock leaves and lays its eggs in the developing buds.[1]

Hollyhock weevils, gray with long snouts and orange legs, on a hairy hollyhock bud
Hollyhock weevils, gray with long snouts and orange legs, on a hairy hollyhock bud. (c) Sylvain Montagner, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Adults are 0.10 to 0.15 inch long, gray and slightly hairy, with orangish legs and a long snout.[1]
  • Look for leaves with small holes and pairs of weevils around flowers and buds; holes in seed pods are another sign.[1]

Where it lives

Native to southern and southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, it was found in Georgia in 1914 and is now well distributed across the US.[1]

US map: public records from 32 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

Adults mate in July and August, and females drill deep into developing buds to lay eggs.[1]

Larvae develop in 4 to 6 weeks and pupate in August; most overwinter as adults in duff and litter.[1]

Damage and signs

  • Weevils reduce flowering and may cut natural reseeding, though their feeding damage to hollyhock is relatively minor.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; the PNW Insect Management Handbook mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Prevention

Watch for the first holes in leaves, or for paired weevils around flowers and buds.[1]

Sanitation

Remove and destroy buds before adults emerge in late summer, or through winter to catch adults that emerge in spring.[1]

Traps and physical control

Bend flower heads over a box and strike the stem sharply to knock adults off, or pick them off; they cling tightly.[1]

Common questions

What tiny gray weevils are on my hollyhock buds?
Probably hollyhock weevils, which feed on leaves and lay eggs in developing buds.[1]
How do I get rid of hollyhock weevils without spraying?
Knock them into a box by striking the stem, hand-pick them, and remove infested buds.[1]

Sources

  1. Pacific Northwest Pest Management Handbooks (OSU, WSU, University of Idaho), “Hollyhock (Alcea rosea): Hollyhock weevil (Insect Management Handbook).” pnwhandbooks.org/insect/hort/landscape/hosts-pests-landscape-plants/hollyhock-alcea-rosea-hollyhock-weevil (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Rhopalapion longirostre taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/455182 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.