Not known to transmit any human or animal pathogens.

Not known to vector any pathogens or other associated organisms but damage may lead to invasion by secondary pests.

To complete a survey for this pest, you must perform both visual and trapping surveys.

Green bucket traps can be hung from the main stem of caneberries such as Himalayan blackberry. If the plant is unable to support the trap, hang it from a metal or wooden stake at canopy height or chest-height (for taller plants like Himalyan blackberry) near the plant. In strawberry, it may be necessary to bury the green bucket trap or sticky cards may be preferred. The previous approved method required burying traps, but recent research has shown similar efficacy for bucket traps that are hung. Burying traps will increase the collection of non-targets such as slugs and rodents that can degrade weevil specimens.

Sticky cards must be used with a lure attached. Yellow sticky cards can be attached directly to host plants, to posts on field edges, or just inside a field at canopy or chest height. Sticky cards need to be inspected and cleaned regularly, particularly in windy or dusty areas as dust-covered traps will be less effective. Hot melt adhesives are recommended for use in warm, humid locations to maintain specimen integrity.

Attaching lures to traps

IMPORTANT: Do not include lures for other target species in the trap when surveying for this target.

After mating in the spring, adult females lay eggs in the closed green flower buds of host plants. The female then severs the bud, which drops from the plant or hangs partially attached. 

A Likelihood of Establishment Map is now available. This survey should only be considered in the states with appropriate conditions and suitable hosts for this insect. The map was produced by the SAFARIS Team. SAFARIS is a modeling framework that enables PPQ to quickly respond to emergencies, efficiently survey for pests, and assess potential pest impacts by collecting critical geospatial data and developing predictive models. SAFARIS is developed and maintained by the NC State University, Center for Integrated Pest Management (CIPM) with support from PPQ PPRA.

Surveys should be conducted at temperatures above 50°F when adults are active. Overwintering, unmated adults emerge in the spring and are active on hosts during warm, sunny weather. Adults feed on the young leaves of strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and other host plants. In fall, they feed on the ripening berries and on the pollen of certain wild plants.

Surveyors should perform simultaneous visual and trapping surveys. Inspect host plants for severed or damaged buds and place traps to capture adults. Active collection of adults is optional (see below).

Visual Survey
When placing and checking traps, visually inspect host plants throughout the survey site for damaged or severed buds, especially in Himalayan blackberry.

Damaged emerging buds are a distinct sign of A. rubi early in the growing season in the western region of North America (west of the Rocky Mountains). The female weevil severs the closed green flower bud from the stalk after laying eggs inside it. Buds will either drop from the plant or hang partially attached. See the CAPS Pest Datasheet for images of damaged buds.

In addition to the required methods described above, surveyors can actively collect adults from symptomatic buds by either (1) shaking host plants and catching the falling insects in a cut-off milk jug or other container or (2) beat-sheeting host plants. Focus collection efforts on or near plants with signs of infestation. Because these methods can damage host plants, obtain permission from landowners or growers before attempting collection.

Trapping Survey

Deploy traps throughout the survey area. Lures must be used with either the bucket or sticky card traps.

Visual and trapping surveys can be conducted in areas with wild host plants or in commercial strawberry, blackberry, or raspberry fields. Wild Himalayan blackberry hedges have been the most productive habitat for survey in North America to date.

After trapping or actively collecting specimens, place samples of adult A. rubi in vials of 70% ethanol for shipping and identification. 

Anthonomus rubi is similar to A. signatus, which is found in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains. Adults of the species appear different. While A. rubi is black, A. signatus is brownish-red with a large black spot on each elytra. However, an all-black color morph of A. signatus has been reported from British Colombia, Canada. The biology and hosts of the two pests are similar.

There are other similar looking Anthonomus species, including A. corvulus, A. nigrinus, and A. eugenii. However, these species are found on different hosts than A. rubi and A. signatus. Anthonomus eugenii is found in the southern United States.