The plum curculio overwinters in the adult stage under ground litter, in woodpiles and 
other protective sites adjacent to orchards. When apple trees are in the pink stage, the adults begin to fly into the orchards to feed on the buds, flowers, leaves and young fruit for up to 4 weeks. During this time females chew small cavities in the developing fruit in which they lay eggs (one egg/cavity). At each site they make a crescent-shaped cut next to the cavity. The eggs hatch in about 7 days and larvae develop in the fruit for 10 to 16 days, then drop to the ground to pupate in the soil. After about 2-3 weeks the new adults emerge and fly into the trees to feed on the fruit. No eggs are laid at this time. The adults feed until the cooler and shorter days of fall signal time to leave the orchards in search of suitable overwintering sites.
other protective sites adjacent to orchards. When apple trees are in the pink stage, the adults begin to fly into the orchards to feed on the buds, flowers, leaves and young fruit for up to 4 weeks. During this time females chew small cavities in the developing fruit in which they lay eggs (one egg/cavity). At each site they make a crescent-shaped cut next to the cavity. The eggs hatch in about 7 days and larvae develop in the fruit for 10 to 16 days, then drop to the ground to pupate in the soil. After about 2-3 weeks the new adults emerge and fly into the trees to feed on the fruit. No eggs are laid at this time. The adults feed until the cooler and shorter days of fall signal time to leave the orchards in search of suitable overwintering sites.An adult curculio is about 4-6 mm long, dark grey to brown with grey and white patches on the back. It has 4 bumps on the back and their snout is about ¼ of their body length. Mature larvae are 7-9 mm long, white, legless, grub-like with a brown head.
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