Oak weevil: how to protect forests from fruiting
Probably, on every plant that exists and is grown there are lovers. These are insects that feast on fruits or greens. There is an acorn weevil that harms oak fruits.
Content
What does the oak weevil look like
Description of the beetle
Name: Oak weevil, Acorn weevil, Oak weevil
Latin: Curculio glandiumClass: Insects - Insecta
Squad: Coleoptera - Coleoptera
Family: Weevils - Curculionidae
 | Habitats: | oak groves |
 | Dangerous for: | acorns |
 | Means of destruction: | biopreparations |
Weevil larva.
The acorn weevil, he also bore the oak, is a beetle from the weevil family that has very specific taste preferences. This pest only infects acorns or hazelnuts.
The adult beetle is small, up to 8 mm in size, yellow-brown in color, sometimes with gray or reddish hues, which is given by scales. He has a square wide shield with spots.
The larva is sickle-shaped, yellow-white, 6-8 mm in size. Both the larva and the adult are pests. If 2 or more larvae develop in the stomach, then it does not germinate.
nose weevil
The nose, or rather the apparatus that is called the rostrum, is very long, up to 15 mm. It helps the beetle to eat, is a kind of saw and ovipositor. But due to the fact that the size in relation to the body is disproportionate, the elephant has to hold it straight so that it does not interfere.
When an acorn suitable for feeding is found, the beetle tilts its trunk and rotates its head very quickly to drill a hole.
Distribution and life cycle
Acorn weevils are thermophilic and light-loving, often settling on single oaks or nuts. The beetle develops twice during the season:
- overwintered adults emerge in spring;
Acorn weevil.
- flight begins with warming, in early May;
- they find a mate in fruit-bearing oaks;
- lay eggs in the acorn, which develop 25-30 days;
- larvae actively develop, when the acorn falls into the soil they get out;
- adults appear at the end of summer. They can remain in the ground in a state of diapause until spring.
In regions where the summer is short, the individual goes through a yearly generation. They live almost throughout the Russian Federation, European countries and northern Africa.
Diet preferences
Adults infect young leaves, shoots, oak flowers, and then gather on acorns. In the absence of sufficient food, an adult adult can infect birch, linden or maple. They also love nuts.
However, the larvae feed only on the insides of the acorn.
bug damage
With untimely protection of plantings, the acorn weevil can destroy even 90% of the total acorn crop. Damaged fruits fall prematurely and do not develop.
Harvested affected acorns are suitable for feeding livestock if they have not been treated with insecticides.
Ways to deal with acorn weevil
When storing collected acorns, it is necessary to monitor the cleanliness of the room. Ventilation should also be provided so that moisture does not accumulate.
Irrigation of oak plantations from helicopters was even practiced in order to complete the cultivation.
Preventive measures
Ways of prevention in the same way as passive control measures are:
- collection and removal of fallen and diseased acorns;
- sorting of seed material during planting and processing it;
- attracting natural enemies such as various types of birds.
Conclusion
The acorn weevil is a dangerous pest that eats hazelnut and oak. If you do not start timely protection against this pest, then you can lose beautiful oak groves in the future.
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