Anthonomus pomorum

Apple blossom weevil ( Anthonomus pomorum )

The apple blossom weevil ( Anthonomus pomorum ) is a beetle of the family of weevils ( Curculionidae ).

Features

The beetles are 3.4 to 4.3 millimeters in length and have a brown or black-brown color. They carry a variable, rough, white and brown colored scales drawing. The pronotum is wearing bright medium and weak discernible sidebands. The elytra have at the back of a dark and light V-shaped drawing. Her legs are dark brown and light -haired. Intermediate leg and rail and on the tarsi are somewhat lighter colored. The antennae are reddish brown, at the end they have a darker colored mace.

Occurrence

The animals come in the Palaearctic north to the south of Finland and the center of Norway and Sweden before. They were also introduced in North America. They are found in orchards primarily on apple trees, pear trees, but also to. They are very common and widespread.

Way of life

The adults appear early in the year from their winter under leaves, lichens or bark near fruit trees and eat their first buds. For egg laying, the females bite holes in buds and lay their eggs individually using their ovipositor ( ovipositor ) into this one. Total 20 to 30 eggs are laid in this manner. The larvae eat by and by a cavity in the bud, which continues to grow, but not open. The animals also cut the petals, which subsequently die and turn brown. Pupation takes place also within the bud, the adult beetles bite after slipping sideways a hole to the outside. About two to three weeks the animals graze on the leaves of plants and then head down to the diapause, which is partially interrupted in September for a short time. They can cause considerable damage during mass occurrence in agriculture.