Plum Curculio
Conotrachelus nenuphar
Not established in BC. Included so growers and scouts can watch for it. Report a suspected find to the BC Blueberry Council.
Damage
Berries are indented and have crescent shaped scars on the surface. Infested berries drop to the ground prematurely. Plum Curculio is a serious pest east of the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States.
Insect
Adults are small beetles, 4-6 mm long, with a narrow snout and plump, bumpy abdomen. They are mottled grey/ brown and black in colour. The adult overwinters in the leaf litter. They emerge in the spring and chew small holes into the surface of green berries in order to lay eggs. The white legless larvae are 5-7 mm long, with a brown head. The larvae develop inside the berry, causing the berry to drop to the ground prematurely.
Photo reference
1 field photo
Select any photo to enlarge.