Gray bud weevil

The gray bud weevil (lat. Anthonomus spilotus) is a member of the Curculionidae family within the order Coleoptera. This species is recognized as a specialized pest that impacts various fruit crops, primarily targeting the reproductive organs of host plants during the early stages of their seasonal development.

The primary hosts of this beetle include various trees from the Rosaceae family. It is particularly known for attacking apple and pear trees. The economic impact is felt when the pest population density is high, leading to significant disruption of fruit set and overall orchard productivity.

The life cycle of Anthonomus spilotus involves overwintering as adults in protected habitats such as leaf litter, bark crevices, or the upper soil surface. As temperatures rise in early spring, the weevils emerge to feed on developing buds, subsequently laying eggs into the tissues of the buds.

Damage occurs when the larvae feed internally on the floral parts, specifically destroying stamens and pistils. This feeding activity prevents the bud from opening, causing it to wither, turn brown, and eventually drop off, a symptom often referred to as a blasted bud. High levels of infestation can drastically reduce harvest volumes.

Orchard management against this pest requires a strategic approach. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices, including monitoring for adult emergence, physical removal of infested buds where possible, and the judicious use of targeted insecticides, are standard procedures to mitigate damage in commercial and private orchards.

• Spring monitoring of weevil activity using trap trees or visual inspection.
• Applying insecticides during the early budding stages (green tip stage).
• Promoting natural predator populations in the orchard.
• Removing debris to reduce overwintering sites.