Soil particles adhere to this wax, and while the insect remains stationary, which it often does, this makes it well-camouflaged and difficult to spot.

[1] The Argentine stem weevil is native to South America where it is present in Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

In New Zealand, it is considered to be the most important insect pest in the country, causing a total loss estimated in 1991 to be NZ$78–251 million per year.

Attacks are more prevalent in reduced tillage systems because this encourages the growth of wild grasses and weeds which can also act as hosts.

Another wasp Microctonus aethiopoides had previously been introduced in order to control the clover root weevil (Sitona lepidus), and it has also been found to parasitize L. bonariensis.