Pests

Nut Weevils on Common Hazel

Corylus avellana L.

The primary pest of hazel is the nut weevil (Curculio nucum L.), the larvae of which develop inside the fruit, consuming the kernel and causing premature nut drop.

In the reference 32 varieties crop Common hazel, where this is mentioned in the description.

Adult beetles damage buds, leaves, and young hazel ovaries, leaving dark spots on the surface of the fruit. Females lay eggs directly into the fruit, after which the larvae developing inside completely destroy the contents of the nut. Upon completing their feeding, the larva bores a characteristic circular hole in the shell and exits the fruit to pupate in the soil.

Infested fruits often dry up and drop prematurely, frequently becoming subject to secondary infection by brown rot. Although specific resistance genes in hazel to this weevil species have not been described, cultivars exhibit varying degrees of susceptibility, with damage levels in some cultivars reaching 20%.

General information about the subject — on the page Weevils.

Sources4

Varieties of Common hazel mentioned in the description

Selection based on the description text, not on official evaluation: these data are absent from registers. For specific variety details, please refer to its profile.