However, because they are active mostly at night, their dispersive abilities are probably underestimated. A sex pheromone produced by females has been identified and synthesized. This weevil feeds on plants in the plant family Convolvulaceae. Although it has been found associated with several genera, its primary hosts are in the genus Ipomoea . Among vegetable crops only sweet potato, I. batatas , is a suitable host.
Native plants can be important hosts of sweetpotato weevil.
Railroad vine, Ipomoea pes-caprae , and morning glory, I. panduratea , are among the suitable wild hosts. Natural Enemies Several natural enemies are known. There have been no studies of parasitoid effectiveness, but these species seem to be infrequent. Diseases, especially the fungus Beauveria bassiana , have been observed to inflict high levels of mortality under conditions of high humidity and high insect density, but field conditions are rarely conducive for disease epizootics. There is a positive relationship between vine damage or weevil density, and tuber damage.