Other pests with which the apple blossom weevil may be confused

Tortrix moth caterpillars can occasionally form a capped blossom rather like the apple blossom weevil.

Apple bud weevil (Anthonomus piri): The adult of the apple bud weevil is very similar in appearance to the adult apple blossom weevil, but is a lighter, brown colour, and lays its eggs in the autumn and early spring.

• The apple bud weevil is local and rare in the UK and until recently was only recorded on apple though a recent local outbreak has occurred on pear in north Kent.
• It is an important pest of pear in continental Europe.
• The larva infests buds which are hollowed out remaining as dead husks in which the larva is found.

Apple twig cutter (Rhynchites caeruleus): A locally common weevil that occurs on apple but the adult is metallic blue in colour and appears much later in May and June causing characteristic shoot severing damage.

Apple fruit rhynchites (Rhynchites aequatus): The adult weevil is reddish brown occurring in May to July and sometimes feeds on developing apple fruitlets drilling small holes in the flesh causing characteristic damage symptoms.