The Agave Snout Weevil is present in Cyclades and can damage several agave and yucca species.
The “Agave disease” is caused by infestation from the weevil Scyphophorus acupunctatus. Adult weevils have a brown-black body and reach about 12 mm in length.
They infest many species of Agave, but the very large Agave americana is more prone to attack than smaller species. The same weevil also attacks several species of yucca.
Adult female weevils enter the base of the plant to lay their eggs. Infected plants have initially a withered appearance and soon after collapse and die. The young larvae develop and soon look for other plants to infect nearby.
As control of the disease is difficult, it is recommended to opt for smaller agave species that are less susceptible. This is especially the case in areas where the problem has occurred before. Spraying in spring with a broad spectrum insecticide can also reduce infection danger.