The peach weevil (Aegorhinus phaleratus) also known as the cabrito del duraznero (in Spanish) is native to Chile. The body of the adult is black, robust and covered with setae and white scales arranged in broad, transverse bands on the elytra. The pronotum is elongated, with deep, irregular punctuations. The female lays the eggs in groups of 4 or 5, on the soil or in cracks in the bark 10 cm from the ground. Hatching occurs after approximately two weeks. The larva is yellow.
Damage
Adult weevils feed on the leaves and shoots which in young plants decreases photosynthetic efficiency, delaying crop development. The greatest damage is caused by the larvae (C-shaped grubs), which feed on the on the bark and xylem, producing galleries inside the plant, reducing the absorption of water and nutrients and causing the death of the plant .
There are specific natural enemies for weevils.
For more information contact your local BioBee field agent.
