Cherry weevil

Systematic position: The cherry weevil (Magdalis cerasi) belongs to the order Coleoptera and the family Curculionidae. It is a significant pest that specializes in damaging the bark and vascular tissues of fruit-bearing trees, often causing irreversible physiological stress to the host.

Host plants: The pest primarily targets stone fruit trees. Cherries and sweet cherries are the most common hosts, but the insect also frequently infests plums, sloe, and occasionally apricots. Host specificity is high, focusing on trees belonging to the Rosaceae family.

Biology and life cycle: Adult weevils overwinter inside their larval cells within the wood or sometimes in the soil. They emerge in early spring, coinciding with bud burst, and begin feeding on developing buds and foliage. Females deposit eggs under the bark of young twigs, where the subsequent larval stage feeds, creating galleries that disrupt the tree's vascular system.

Nature of damage: Larval feeding is the most destructive phase, as they mine beneath the bark, leading to twig dieback and potential tree mortality if infestations are severe. Adult beetles contribute to damage by skeletonizing leaves, creating small holes which reduce the plant's leaf area index and general vigor.

• Regular pruning and destruction of infested branches to interrupt the life cycle.
• Application of insecticides during the early spring emergence window.
• Biological control through the encouragement of predatory birds and beneficial insects in the orchard.
• Trunk whitewashing to deter egg-laying females.
• Monitoring for early symptoms like wilting terminals during the growing season.