The Strawberry Weevil (Otiorhynchus rugosostriatus) is native to South America and has a wide range of both forest and fruit hosts. Strawberry weevil adults are highly distinctive, with a 0.7-0.8 cm oval, reddish-brown to black body and a globose appearance. The antennae and legs are black and hairy. The adults are parthenogenetic and so far only females have been recorded. The female lays hundreds of eggs in groups on the ground around the base of the plants, occasionally they can be laid on petioles close to the ground. The larvae emerge after about 3 weeks. The larvae feed on rootlets at the beginning and move to feed on larger roots as they grow. Larvae Pupation occurs on the ground cover.
Adults feed on the foliage at night, producing bite marks on the leaf margins which alert farmers to the presence of the species. The larvae cause more severe damage by feeding on the roots and foliage of the plant. Symptoms of infested plants include poor growth, wilting and they may even die while those that survive produce only poor quality fruit. Since adults are flightless, plants bordering older plantings show damage in the first season, with damage spreading each year in new plantings.
There are specific natural enemies and solutions for different weevils.
For more information contact your local BioBee field agent.