Fruit weevil

The fruit weevil (Rhynchites auratus), belonging to the Curculionidae family, is a significant pest primarily affecting stone fruit trees. These beetles are characterized by their metallic bronze or golden-green appearance and a long snout, which they use to pierce buds, leaves, and fruits.

This pest is particularly damaging to cherries, plums, apricots, and peaches. By feeding on buds during the early spring, the weevils prevent the tree from developing healthy foliage and flowers, which directly impacts the potential harvest and reduces the overall vigor of the orchard.

The life cycle of the fruit weevil is closely tied to the soil and the tree's phenology. Adults overwinter in the soil at a depth of up to 15 centimeters. Once temperatures rise, they emerge and migrate to the trees to begin their feeding cycle, causing severe mechanical damage to the developing plant tissues.

During the egg-laying period, females deposit eggs into the fruit and may partially gnaw the fruit stalk, leading to premature fruit drop. The larvae then burrow into the fruit to feed on the pulp before eventually descending to the ground to pupate. This makes targeting both the adult stage and the soil-dwelling stages crucial.

To effectively manage fruit weevil populations, growers should adopt the following strategies:

• Cultivation and tillage of soil under tree canopies to disrupt pupation sites.
• Application of selective insecticides during pre-bloom and post-bloom stages.
• Sanitation practices, including the collection and destruction of fallen fruit.
• Manual removal of adults by shaking branches over tarps during the early morning hours when the beetles are inactive.