Strawberry Clipper

Dr. D. L. Horton, Professor and Extension Entomologist, The University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Athens, GA 30602,
Dr. H C Ellis, Professor and Extension Entomologist, The University of Georgia, Department of Entomology, Tifton, GA 31793

In: Roberts, P. M. and G. K. Douce, Coordinators. 1999. Weevils and Borers. A County Agent's Guide to Insects Important to Agriculture in Georgia. Univ. of GA, Col. Ag. Env. Sci., Coop. Ext. Serv., Tifton, GA USA. Winter School Top Fifty Agricultural Insect Pests and Their Damage Sessions , Rock Eagle 4-H Ctr., Jan. 20, 1999.

Description: The strawberry clipper adult is a dark reddish-brown weevil, or snout beetle, that is less than 3 mm (1/10 in) in length. The head and thorax are mostly black, and each wing-cover has a large black spot. Its slender, curved snout is about half as long as its body. Chewing mouthparts are located at the end of the snout. The grubs are legless, white, and soft-bodied.

Hosts: Blackberry, strawberry, raspberry, dewberry, and red bud tree.

Life Cycle: Adult weevils emerge from overwintering sites as soon as suitable buds of early strawberries or red bud trees are available. Activity begins when temperatures exceed 600F, normally mid-March to early April. Mating begins on these early spring hosts and continues through the month-long egg-laying period. Weevils leave strawberry as soon as blackberry buds begin to swell. Egg laying females avoid the thick sepals of blackberry buds and chew holes near the tip or apex of the bud. The female then severs the stem near the bud so it either drops to the ground or hangs by a slender thread of tissue. Females lay 20 to 30 eggs over a period of about a month. Eggs hatch in 4 to 12 days. Larvae live three to four weeks. Larvae pupate inside the bud and molt to adults in about 10 days. Overwintered adults may still be laying eggs as late as mid-May, when the first summer adults emerge from the buds. Summer adults readily fly a considerable distance. They feed on the pollen of various weeds. Some weevils overwinter in cultivated host plantings, but most winter in adjoining weeds or woods.

Control: Late-blooming bramble varieties suffer less damage because the weevils have laid a lot of their eggs before the buds of the varieties become attractive to them. Parasitism can be extensive, but it occurs after clipping injury so the damage is already done. A tentative action threshold similar to that used for strawberries is suggested for blackberries. Treat when one cut bud is found per 0.6 m (2 ft.) of row or one live weevil per 12 m (4 ft.) of row. Scout two to three times weekly for bud stem cutting to catch infestation early. An insecticide can be applied just after bloom.

Selected References and Suggested Readings