The Macadamia nut borer (Thaumatotibia batrachopa) lays its eggs singly on young fruit measuring around 10mm in diameter. Females can lay between 170-300 eggs in their lifetime. On hatching, larvae bore through the skin and into the fruit in search of the seed.
Damage
Larvae boring into the fruit often causes the fruit to drop from the tree, however, the larva continues to develop to maturity. The final instar larva leaves the nut to pupate in the soil or remain in the dropped nut/fruit. Able to move from fruit to fruit, the larva can consume multiple nuts.
There are specific natural enemies for different species of weevils.
For more information contact your local BioBee field agent.