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Life Cycle
Adults move from wooded areas, where they overwinter, into the fields; however, adults occasionally overwinter inside blueberry fields if left unmanaged. The adults are small (1/16 inch long), dark reddish brown beetles, with few whitish bands on the wings, and a long snout (see Picture 1). Eggs are laid singly through the feeding holes into the flower. Larvae feed from egg hatch to pupation within the flower buds in which they were deposited as eggs. Pupation occurs within the infested flowers and adults emerge in late May. Infested flowers turn purplish, fail to open, and eventually fall to the ground.
Scouting and Control
To monitor adults, use a beating tray under each bush and hit the bush to dislodge weevils; repeat on both sides of the bush to obtain number of weevils per bush. Because weevils are abundant near the woods where they overwinter, sampling for weevils should be intensified along the edge rows near the woods. Adults are found on sunny days. Monitor at least 10 bushes per sample site. Spraying should be confined to these “hot” spots on edge rows. Treatment thresholds are 5 weevils per bush or 20% of blossom clusters with feeding injury (i.e., at least 1 injury/puncture per 5 clusters) (see Picture 2). Asana, Imidan, or Mustang Max are recommended for cranberry weevil control.