Larvae hatch less than a week after eggs are laid. They burrow deep into stems and fleshy roots for about 2 to 3 weeks. At the end of this period, third instar larvae return to the plant surface nearest the soil line to pupate. Pupae transform into adults in about a week, but another 4 days often elapse before the new beetles emerge from their pupal cells. Adults live about 2.5 to 3 months in summer and up to 8 months in winter.
Sweetpotato weevils continue to feed and breed throughout winter in stored sweet potatoes.
As many as 6 to 8 generations may be produced each year. Planting sweet potatoes in the same fields year after year leads to increased weevil populations. If slips for planting cannot be obtained from a weevil-free area, each sweet potato chosen for seed should be examined carefully and destroyed if infested. Postharvest insecticide treatments can be applied to prevent development of weevils in storage. Treated sweet potatoes, however, will need to be washed thoroughly once they are removed from storage.