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Rhynchites coeruleus de Geer
Insecta, Coleoptera, Rhynchitidae .

Apple twig-cutter

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: 2.5 to 3.5 mm. Shiny blue; rostrum, antennae, tibiae and tarsi black. Rostrum as long as the prothorax in the male or longer in the female. Antennae inserted in the middle of the rostrum and ending in a strong club. Elytra rectangular, highly punctuated and covered in a raised fine brown pubescence (*) .

[R]Biology
- This insect feeds especially on pear and, rarely, on apple, plum or strawberry.
- Adult: it emerges from hibernation in spring and nibbles the buds. Shortly after it has resumed activity, the female begins to lay eggs: using its rostrum, it forms a cavity in a shoot and deposits an egg (*) ; it then incises a shoot in several places with its mandibles.
- Larva: it develops inside the shoot then, when fully grown, drops to the ground, buries itself and builds a cell in which it overwinters.

[R]Life Cycle
- 1 annual generation.

[R]Damage
The shoots incised by the female after oviposition desiccate and hang from the part of the stem which has remained healthy (*) . This species is common in all orchards but damage it causes is generally of secondary importance.

[R]Common Names
DE: Zweigstecher ES: Corta-brotes FR: Rhynchite coupe-bourgeons IT: Punteruolo delle gemme delle piante da frutto PT: Rinquito corta-botões GB: Apple twig-cutter

[R] Images

  1. Rhynchites coeruleus de Geer (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Adult on an apple leaf
  2. Rhynchites coeruleus de Geer (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Egg in an apple shoot The young branch has been cut open to show the egg.
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  3. Rhynchites coeruleus de Geer (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Damage on pear tree The shoot is partially severed at the time of laying and then, it wilts.
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