Diaprepes abbreviatus
In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%
Diaprepes abbreviatus, also known as the diaprepes root weevil, citrus root weevil and sugarcane rootstock borer weevil, is a species of weevil that is native to the Caribbean, where in Spanish it is colloquially called chichí. It has become an invasive pest in several locations in the United States.
It is an agricultural pest in several Caribbean countries. In 1964 this weevil was accidentally introduced in the US, state of Florida, where it is presently a major pest of citrus. It was first discovered in southern California in 2005, where it is a pest of citrus, avocado, and nursery stock. In Texas it was found in the Rio Grande Valley in 2000, resulting in a 2001 quarantine, and then in 2009 around Houston. Another sighting in 2019 confirms that it is still in the area. In June of 2022, a new sighting also occurred in Pearland.
Citrus, avocado, and nursery stock. It is also known to infest sugarcane, tuber-bearing crops such as potatoes, and ornamental plants. The adult citrus root weevil is somewhat variable in size but just over 1 cm (3⁄8 in) in length on average. Its elytra are glossy black with... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Everglades National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Orlando | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Miami | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 3 | Houston | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 4 | San Diego | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 5 | Los Angeles | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Diaprepes Root Weevil sighting in Everglades National Park on a given day, based on 5 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 439th most-seen of the 496 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.
March, May, August and November
In those months about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Diaprepes Root Weevil in Everglades National Park on a given day, against under 5% in April, June–July, September–October and December–February, the lowest months.
Between 10 am and 1 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Diaprepes Root Weevil sightings with a recorded time, and about 7 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
2nd of 2
Of the 2 parks where we can rate Diaprepes Root Weevil sightings, Everglades National Park ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge (United States, about 10%).
Same family: Curculionidae
The closest relatives of the Diaprepes Root Weevil that you can see in Everglades National Park (family Curculionidae, True Weevils) are Blue-Green Citrus Root Weevil (about 10%) and Little Leaf Notcher (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Diaprepes Root Weevil is recorded against all the insects logged in Everglades National Park (5 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
