MASS OCCURRENCE OF LEAF-ROLLING WEEVIL (Byctiscus betulae L.) IN VINEYARDS IN THE LJUBUŠKI AREA IN 2025ADA LJUBUŠKI U 2025. GODINI

Abstract

The leaf-rolling weevil (Byctiscus betulae L.) is a beetle belonging to the family Rhynchitidae, widely distributed across Europe and parts of Asia. It typically inhabits environments rich in deciduous trees and shrubs, while in vineyards it occasionally occurs as a secondary pest. Adults emerge in early spring and feed on buds, later also on leaves, producing characteristic notch-like feeding damage. Once the buds open and grapevines develop foliage, adults begin gnawing on leaf petioles, which leads to leaf 
wilting. Females roll wilted leaves into cylindrical structures (“cigars”), inside which they deposit several eggs. A single female may roll approximately 20 such cigars. During May and June 2025, visual inspections of grapevine plants were carried out at the following sites: Grabovo Vrelo, Bijača, Lisice, Radišići, Veljaci, Ljubuški Center, and Ljubuški – Plantaža. Damage caused by the leaf-rolling weevil was recorded at Grabovo Vrelo, Bijača, Lisice, and Ljubuški Center. All sites where damage was observed were located in close proximity to larger forest stands. The highest intensity of damage was recorded at Grabovo Vrelo, where the average number of cigars per vine ranged from 4 to 10. Depending on the site, the average cigar length ranged from 7 to 9 cm, while the average number of eggs per cigar varied between 2 and 5.