Flower beetle (weevil) on an apple tree: methods of control in the spring, after flowering, photo, what it looks like

An apple tree is an almost integral “accessory” of a personal plot in Russia. One of the problems that gardeners have to face when growing it is pests. Already at the beginning of the season, the flower beetle becomes active on the apple tree, capable of destroying most of the crop. To get rid of the pest and prevent re-infection, a combination of competent agricultural technology and regular prevention, the use of suitable insecticides and folk remedies is necessary.

What does a flower beetle look like on an apple tree?

Apple flower beetle or apple weevil (Anthonomus Pomorum) is a small (3-5 mm in length), oval flying bug of dark brown, almost black color. Almost its entire body is covered with “bristles”, but it is very difficult to distinguish them with the naked eye.Close-up photos will help you identify the apple blossom beetle.

This is a monophagous insect, it is “interested” exclusively in apple trees

The insect earned the nickname “weevil” because of the specific shape of its head – in its front part there is a tubular “proboscis”. In females it is more pronounced than in males.

Important! The habitat of the apple blossom beetle is very wide. It practically coincides with the territory where the crop is grown.

Where does the apple blossom beetle overwinter?

Only adult apple blossom beetles can survive winter. They find shelter in cracks in the bark, hide in fallen leaves, rotting fruits, and burrow into the soil. In any case, the apple flower beetle overwinters next to the tree, moving away from the base of the trunk by a maximum of 40-50 cm.

Important! The apple blossom beetle spends the winter at a temperature of 10-12°C. In spring, the pest “wakes up” very early, as soon as the air warms up to 6°C.

What harm does the apple blossom beetle cause?

Once in the crown of the tree, the female apple weevil lays eggs in unopened buds, making a hole in its shell with her “proboscis” - one in each. Accordingly, one clutch means damage to 50-100 flowers.

After 3-4 days, the eggs “hatch” into larvae that eat the bud from the inside. They start with the stamens and pistils. The products of their vital activity stick together the petals of the unopened bud; it gradually turns black, turning into a “cap”.

The apple flower beetle spends 2.5-3 weeks in the larval stage, molting several times. Then the pupae, remaining there, strengthen the chitinous layer. Adults “emerge” from the buds and begin to destroy young leaves and spoil the surviving ovaries, “piercing” their skin.The activity of the pest lasts for 5-8 weeks, then the weevil begins to look for shelter for the winter.

Apples damaged by insects in most cases do not ripen.

Important! The damage caused by the apple blossom beetle increases significantly when the weather is favorable for its mass reproduction. Optimal conditions for this are high (70-75%) air humidity, temperature during mating is 12-15°C, during the period of activity of adults – 20-22°C.

Signs of defeat

The apple blossom beetle is a fairly large insect. Considering that after wintering it “wakes up” early, it is easy to see the beetle on the still “bare” branches with the naked eye.

"Concomitant" signs:

small round dark “dots” on flower buds;
drying, darkening and falling buds;
deformed, small leaves;
“openwork” holes with uneven edges on leaves that turn yellow and fall prematurely;
ugly fruits with “seals” on the skin that resemble a cork and juice oozing from under it.

The buds in which the female pest laid eggs will definitely not bloom.

All these symptoms are quite “vague”; they may indicate an attack on the flowering and fruiting apple tree by other pests. The appearance of the flower beetle is indirectly indicated by the fact that of all fruit trees, only this crop is affected.

When to spray apple trees against flower beetle (weevil) in spring

The timing of treating apple trees against the flower beetle must be “synchronized” with the life cycle of the pest:

as soon as the air warms up enough for the insects to wake up from hibernation;
in the “green cone” stage of leaf buds;
in the budding phase;
according to newly appeared ovaries.

Spraying with insecticides is carried out only at positive temperatures

The last treatment of apple trees against the flower beetle is carried out about a month before the first frost, in preparation for winter. First, the soil must be deeply loosened and the flaking bark is removed from the tree trunk.

How to deal with weevil (flower beetle) on an apple tree

There are quite a lot of products for treating apple trees against weevils before and after flowering. If the pest is noticed in time, and there are still few beetles on the tree, you can use folk remedies and biological products. When the apple blossom beetle has already multiplied en masse, only “heavy artillery” in the form of strong chemicals will help.

Chemical preparations for apple blossom beetle

Any chemicals, even those that are not harmful to humans according to the hazard class, must be worked with using personal protective equipment. To combat apple weevil, in principle, any universal insecticides with a wide spectrum of action are suitable.

Angio

A combined contact action insecticide containing active substances from the group of nicotinoids and pyrethroids. It is used against any beetles and their larvae attacking garden crops (including the apple blossom beetle). The drug is available in the form of a suspension, each 3.6 ml sachet is designed for 10 liters of water. It is enough to spray 2-5 apple trees, depending on their age and size.

The main disadvantage of the Enzhio insecticide is a decrease in the effectiveness of treatment against apple blossom beetle in hot weather and strong winds.

Aktara

A broad-spectrum insecticide used against the apple blossom beetle and other insects dangerous to the garden (gnawing, sucking, mining). The active substance is thiamethoxam (from the class of nicotinoids).Available in the form of granules or highly concentrated suspension. The drug works as a nerve poison; apple weevils die within 20-24 hours. To spray trees, 3 g of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water.

Aktara is compatible with any insecticide from the same or another class

Decis Profi

An enteric-contact insecticide, effective against any beetles, butterflies, flies, and aphids. The active substance (deltamethrin) enters the body of the apple flower beetle through the chitinous cover or the digestive tract. The drug is available in the form of water-soluble granules and concentrated emulsion. For treatment against apple blossom beetle, 10 g of the drug is diluted in 10 liters of water.

The shelf life of the working solution of the drug Decis is a maximum of four hours.

Important! The apple blossom beetle gradually develops “immunity” to most chemicals. Therefore, it is recommended to change preparations for treating trees every 2-3 seasons.

Biological preparations for weevils on apple trees

Biological products, compared to chemicals, are less dangerous to human health, future crops and the environment. They are suitable for treating apple trees against the flower beetle in spring and autumn. But their effectiveness is noticeably lower and their validity period is shorter.

Boverin

The active ingredients are a mixture of toxic metabolites and spores of certain fungi. It is used against any butterflies, beetles, and thrips that attack garden crops. Penetrating into the body of an insect, it releases toxins that are fatal to it. Available in powder form, the concentration of the working solution against apple weevil is 10 g per 10 liters of water.

Treatment with Boverin gives the best effect at air humidity of 80-100% and temperature 24-26°C

Bitoxibacillin

A biological product effective against larvae and pupae of pests at any stage of development. It has a weaker effect on adults. The active substance is a combination of exotoxin and fungal spores. Once in the digestive tract, it causes paralysis and death of the insect after 7-12 days. Available in powder or suspension form. For treatment against apple blossom beetle, take 10 g or 70 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water, respectively.

Bitoxibacillin" is dangerous for bees - after treatment against apple blossom beetle, they need to be "isolated" for at least 12 hours

Fitoverm

Insectoacaricide of biological origin based on aversectin-C (neurotoxin for insects). It has a very wide spectrum of action, destroying the apple blossom beetle and other beetles, leaf rollers, butterflies, moths, aphids, codling moths, thrips, and mites. Available in the form of a concentrated emulsion. To spray against apple blossom beetle, take 15 ml of the drug per 10 liters of water.

Fitoverm works best at high temperatures

Folk remedies for flower beetle (weevil) on apple trees

Folk remedies are used mainly for prevention. It is necessary to spray apple trees and the soil under them against weevils not only in the spring, but throughout the entire season, at intervals of 7-10 days.

To combat the pest use:

Chamomile. About 200 g of fresh “raw materials” are crushed, poured with hot (45-50°C) water, and left for about a day.
Cones or needles (of any tree). Approximately 500 g is poured into 5 liters of boiling water, kept in a water bath for 2-3 hours, allowed to cool under a tightly closed lid. Another option is to leave them to “ferment” in a dark, warm place for 12-15 days.
Sagebrush. Dry grass is poured with hot water in a volume of approximately 1:5 and left for 2-3 days.Then the liquid is filtered, brought to a boil, and used for treatment against apple blossom beetle after cooling. Similarly, you can use tansy, self-grown tobacco, onion or garlic “arrows”.

Many insects do not like the pungent smell of wormwood.

Another “folk remedy” for combating the apple blossom beetle is collecting beetles by hand or shaking them off the tree. First, you need to spread fabric, paper, or polyethylene under it.

Important! For better “sticking” of solutions against apple blossom beetle to leaves and shoots, it is recommended to add 15-20 g of soap shavings, whipped into foam.

Agrotechnical control measures

The apple flower beetle feels most comfortable in “stale”, humid air. To avoid its attack, trees are planted, providing each of them with enough space for development and the ability to ventilate the crown. When determining the intervals between apple trees, the dimensions of an adult plant are taken into account.

Regular sanitary and formative pruning will help to thin out the crown. They help not only protect trees from the apple blossom beetle, but also increase productivity by relieving them of unnecessary “ballast”.

Proper preparation for winter includes mandatory cleaning of the tree trunk circle from plant and other debris, deep loosening of the soil, and updating the mulch layer. The trunk of the apple tree is cleaned, removing all flaking bark, and whitened. The exposed wood is pre-coated with garden varnish. It is useful to add a solution of any systemic insecticide to the composition for whitewashing against apple blossom beetle.

Proper preparation for winter deprives the pest of potential shelters

Protecting apple trees from the flower beetle

An effective way to protect trees and a measure to combat not only the apple blossom beetle, but also other pests is “catching belts.” They are placed on the base of the trunk, and, if possible, on skeletal branches.

"Belts" are sticky or impregnated with insecticide

Apple flower beetles are food for some entomophages (primarily wasps). Many birds also eat them. If they are attracted to a site, they can destroy up to 90% of the apple blossom beetle population. But there are no guarantees that such “helpers” will not harm the future harvest.

Apple trees resistant to flower beetle

There are quite a lot of varieties resistant to apple blossom beetle. Their characteristics vary widely, allowing you to select seedlings suitable for different growing conditions.

fontanel

An early ripening apple tree with a rounded, sparse crown. Differs in drought and cold resistance. The fruits weigh about 200 g, bright green, with vague spots of crimson “blush”. The taste is balanced, sweet and sour. The pulp is very juicy and aromatic. The variety is resistant to scab, powdery mildew, aphids, spider mites, codling moth, and apple blossom beetle.

The Rodnichok apple tree is distinguished by an extended fruiting period - from the second ten days of July to the end of August

Aphrodite

A self-sterile variety, the tree has a very fast growth rate. The height of the apple tree can reach 9-10 m. The crown is very thick and rounded. Apples weigh 110-130 g, the skin is green, often almost invisible under the burgundy “blush”. The pulp is dense, but at the same time juicy, sweet and sour. The harvest is harvested in the second half of September. The variety is resistant to scab and is extremely rarely affected by the apple blossom beetle and other pests.

The Aphrodite apple tree is valued for the tree’s long productive life (60-70 years) and consistently high yield (up to 130 kg)

Union

Summer variety, resistant to scab and all kinds of pests. The height of the tree is 4-5 m, the crown is spreading, of medium density. The apples are large (about 350 g), one-dimensional. The skin is pale green, almost completely covered with a crimson “blush”. The variety is resistant to scab, powdery mildew, and practically does not suffer from pests.

Professional tasters rate the taste of Soyuz apples at 4.8-4.9 points out of five possible

Conclusion

The apple tree beetle is one of the most dangerous pests that exclusively attacks this crop. If it is not dealt with, it is very likely that most or even all of the crop will be lost. Competent agricultural technology and preventive measures will help prevent an apple blossom beetle attack. To get rid of the pest, they use both folk remedies and “aggressive” chemicals, depending on the severity of the problem.