Apple blossom weevil

Anthonomus pomorum

The typical indication of attack by A. pomorum results from feeding by larvae inside the flower bud. Infested flowers are dome-shaped with brown petals closing together, which are typically called "capped blossoms". Besides larval damage to flowers, feeding on host plants by active adults early in the season also results in small circular holes on newly growing leaves and buds. 

Body length, 3.4-4.3 mm. Rostrum parallel-sided, with distinct median carina. Flagellum with 7 segments. Elytra with oblique band behind the middle. Fore femur with the largest tooth. In spring the beetles are actively running and flying when the average air temperature is 10°C; adult feeding on buds is necessary for maturation. Fertility is not more than 100 eggs, which are oval and milky-white. Female lays eggs one by one into buds between pistil and stamens, as soon as the buds are thrown off the scales. Ovi-position continues before balloon.s status. One week later larvae hatch and eat generative organs inside the flower buds, extracting sticky excretions, and blossoming becomes impossible. Larvae develop in about 2 weeks. The bud turns brown, gets dry and falls to the ground. The pupal development lasts more than 1 week, then the young beetles emerge from the buds through a round hole. The young beetles eat parenchyma from upper side of leaves, and their harmfulness is insignificant. Adults enter winter diapause at the end of summer and find refuge under the bark of trees.

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