Felted apple weevil

The felted apple weevil (Anthonomus tomentosus) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the Curculionidae family. It is a specialized insect pest primarily found in orchards and wooded areas, known for targeting specific tree species within the Rosaceae family.

The primary hosts of this pest include apple and pear trees. The adult weevils cause damage by feeding on swelling buds and young foliage. Their presence is often detected during the early spring when the tree starts its vegetative cycle, coinciding with the emergence of the beetles from their overwintering sites.

The life cycle involves complete metamorphosis, consisting of the egg, larval, pupal, and adult stages. Overwintering occurs in the adult stage within leaf litter, bark crevices, or the upper layers of soil. As temperatures rise in spring, adults migrate to the host trees to feed and initiate mating.

The economic impact of the felted apple weevil is centered on the damage to reproductive organs. Females deposit eggs into the buds; the emerging larvae consume the inner parts of the flower, such as the stamens and pistils. This results in the buds failing to open, turning brown and drying out, which significantly reduces fruit set.

Effective management requires an integrated approach. Cultural controls include maintaining orchard hygiene and tilling the soil to disturb overwintering sites. Chemical control involves the application of targeted insecticides during the pre-blossom stage. Continuous monitoring using visual inspection or trap-banding is essential to determine the need for treatment.