Damage (Apple blossom weevil)

Apple blossom weevil capped blossoms
  • The main damage is destruction of blossoms.
  • Brown capped blossoms, formed after the larvae have nipped the petal bases to arrest their development, are characteristic of this pest.
  • Infested flowers mostly fail to develop and later fall from the tree.
  • Light attacks may be of little importance and the pest may have a beneficial thinning effect. However, heavy infestations may destroy most or all of the flowers and crops may be devastated.
  • On some varieties, the fruit of some infested flowers continues to develop until harvest. The fruits are malformed, flattened in shape and are distorted around the calyx.