Pests & diseases › Rhubarb Curculio
Rhubarb Curculio
Large rust-yellow beetle (snout weevil) that bores into rhubarb stems and crowns.
Symptoms
- Pinhole punctures on rhubarb stems
- Sap oozing from holes
- Crown rot in severe cases
Lifecycle
One generation per year. Adults active May–July.
What to do
- Hand pick adults
- Bag and bin affected stems
If it's bad
- Generally not warranted
Stop it coming back
- Remove nearby curly dock and thistle plants (alternate hosts)
- Inspect rhubarb crowns weekly during egg-laying
Crops it goes for
Plan the plot, track every sowing, cook the harvest
Sowing reminders and harvest forecasts for your own frost dates, the Seed Tin, Scan Centre for any label or packet, and the Potty Mouth Garden Club. Free to start.