Cherry weevil

The cherry weevil (Curculio cerasorum) is a significant pest of stone fruit trees belonging to the order Coleoptera and the family Curculionidae. This beetle is notorious for its ability to damage fruit crops, significantly reducing both quality and harvest volume in commercial and home orchards.

The primary host plants for this pest include cherries and sweet cherries, although it can also affect plums and apricots. The damage is most severe in years when the population density of the beetle is high, leading to widespread loss of developing fruits during the early stages of the growing season.

The life cycle of Curculio cerasorum is synchronized with the phenological development of host trees. Adult weevils emerge from the soil in spring and begin feeding on buds and young leaves. After mating, females deposit eggs into developing fruits. Larvae then feed on the fruit pulp and kernels for several weeks before dropping to the ground to pupate and overwinter in the soil.

The harm caused by the pest is twofold. Adult weevils cause mechanical injury to buds and foliage, while larvae cause internal fruit damage. Infested cherries often show small punctures, and the internal consumption by the larva leads to premature ripening, decay, and significant fruit drop, rendering the harvest unsuitable for commercial use or consumption.

To effectively manage cherry weevil populations, an integrated pest management (IPM) approach is recommended. Key control strategies include:

• Cultivation of the soil beneath tree canopies during the pupation period to expose and kill developing larvae.
• Regular manual collection of beetles by shaking trees early in the morning when the insects are less active.
• Timely application of systemic and contact insecticides targeting the pre-bloom and post-bloom stages.
• Sanitation, including the collection and destruction of all fallen, infested fruits to interrupt the pest's life cycle.