Rose curculio

You will notice dull red beetle (0.25 inch long) with black undersurface and long snout makes egg punctures in rose buds throughout Western Washington. Affected buds develop holes, fail to open, dry up, or lose their terminal portion, resulting in bent-neck damage where the stem weakens below the bud. Yellow, light pink, and white roses are preferentially attacked; adults also feed on and kill shoot tips.

The insect overwinters as larvae in soil and pupates in spring. Hand-pick damaged buds before beetles emerge to reduce populations. Prune off infested terminals and discard in sealed containers. Light fall or early winter cultivations expose pupae to weather and predators.