About Rhynchites auratus (J.A.Scopoli, 1763)
Rhynchites auratus, first described by J.A. Scopoli in 1763, has distinct characteristics for its adult and larval life stages. Adult individuals are 7–9 mm (0.28–0.35 in) long, with golden-red bodies and brown rostrums and legs. Fully grown larvae reach 12 mm (0.47 in) in length, and are white with brown heads. Adult R. auratus feed on the flowers of cherry trees and other trees that belong to the plant family Rosaceae. After feeding, adult females bore holes into the fruits of these host trees to lay their eggs inside. When R. auratus occurs in high population densities, it is classified as a serious orchard pest, as its activity causes damaged fruits to drop from host trees.
