Rose curculio weevil

The rose curculio, Merhynchites (=Rhynchitesbicolor can be found feeding on rosacious hosts including wild and domestic roses; blackberries, raspberries, and thimbleberries thoughout the northwest. These variably-colored beetles can range from a bright lacquer red to all black. They have a very long snout, useful to penetrate buds for feeding and laying eggs.

In western Oregon a population of adults were noted during the week of May 7th, 2007. They were aggregated near the buds and flowers of thimbleberry.

Further information about rose curculio can be found at these websites:

Baldo Villegas' Rose Weevils (Curculios) website is one of the most thorough available with great pictures and helpful lifecycle information.

Nanette Londeree also has nice images of the rose curculio and damage on roses in her web article, Garden Bad Guys - rose curculios.

Cool pictures at the BugGuide website.

Hamilton, R.W. and S.S. Kuritsky. 1981. Description of the larvae and pupa of Merhynchites bicolor (Fabricious)(Coleoptera: Rhynchitidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin 35(2), 1981. <5 May 2016>

 

Orginal publication: 5/14/2007
Latest publication: 5/5/2016

 

Author: R.L. Rosetta, Extension Nursery Integrated Pest Management, Department of Horticulture, Oregon State University

Rose curculio weevil adult

Rose curculio weevil adult

Rose curculio weevil on flower petals

Rose curculio weevil on flower petals

Rose curculio weevil adult

Rose curculio weevil adult

Rose curculio weevil damage to blossom

Rose curculio weevil damage to blossom

Rose curculio weevils on flower buds

Rose curculio weevils on flower buds

Rose curculio weevils on flower buds

Rose curculio weevils on flower buds