Rose Weevil Facts & Information

What You Can Do

In order to control rose weevil populations, it is necessary to identify them immediately. Noting which rose varieties appear most attractive to these weevils will assist for proper identification. Discarding adult specimens and infested buds may help prevent the reappearance of their populations the next year.

Pesticides should only be used if other methods fail and should not be applied without first consulting a specialist in ornamental plant pest control.

What Orkin Does

Your local Orkin Pro is trained to help manage rose weevils and similar pests. Since every infestation is different, your Orkin Pro will design a unique program for your situation.

Appearance

• Body: The rose weevil measures less than 5 to 6 mm in length with a pronounced snout.

• Color: They are red and black in color.

Diet

Using its long snout, adult rose weevils puncture rosebuds in order to feed, while larvae the plant's reproductive parts for sustenance.

These pests feed primarily on roses and prefer light-colored varieties. In the absence of flower buds, adults will feed on shoots or stems.

Life Cycle

Rose weevils complete their life cycle in four stages:

1. Egg: Females deposit their eggs on the buds of roses in which she has bored a hole.

2. Larval: Larvae will feed on the bud until time to pupate. The feeding of larvae often result in the bud falling from the plant.

3. Pupal: The larvae crawl into the soil to pupate.

4. Adult: The rose weevil pupates and matures beginning in April or May and can only produce one generation a year.

Geographical Range

While not a common pest, these weevils can live throughout a large portion of the U.S. due to their ability to overwinter in cold regions of the country.