Rhubarb Curculio

Approximately 12 - 15 mm in length this insect can be recognized by its long snout. Host plants are rhubarb, sunflower, dock, and thistle. Interestingly enough, eggs laid on rhubarb do not survive because they are killed by the sap. Eggs are oblong and are yellowish white. The eggs are laid singly and take 7-10 days to hatch. After about nine weeks the grub will pupate. Then after a few weeks the adult emerges, feeds for a few weeks, and then looks for a place to overwinter. There is only one generation per year.