Plum Curculio

Conotrachelus nenuphar

Coleoptera: Curculionidae

Identification
• The larva is a legless, white grub up to 3/8" long. (a)
• The adult beetle is almost 1/4" long, rounded, with an elongated snout. It is mottled with black, brown, and gray. (b)

Damage
• The larva tunnels through the fruit of peach, plum, apricot, nectarine, cherry, and quince.
• The adult causes crescent-shaped, 1/8-1/4" long slits on the skin of apple and the above fruits. (c)

Management
• Removing dropped fruit will eliminate some larvae.
• Insecticide applications are effective, starting at fruit blossom petal fall.

Other Information
• Adult beetles overwinter; this allows damage to occur as soon as fruits start to form.
• Adult beetles drop from the tree if disturbed. check for beetle presence by laying a sheet under the tree, shaking branches, and checking for beetles on the sheet.