Rose curculios, also known as rose weevils, are beetles that can damage rose blossoms by chewing holes in the buds and petals. The adult beetles are about 1/4 inch long, hard-bodied, and have a red and black color scheme. They also have elongated heads, long black legs, and distinct antennae.
Rose curculios are attracted to pink and yellow roses with hips, and wild roses are their main host. Their feeding can cause ragged blossoms, deformed buds, and buds that may not open at all. Other signs of damage include gouges in bud stems, which can cause the bud to wilt and die, and rose stems with a "bent neck". If left unchecked, rose curculio damage can ruin the entire plant.
Here are some ways to get rid of rose curculios:
Hand-pick and destroy: Look for adult weevils in early June and pick them off by hand. You can also try gently shaking flowers over a bucket of soapy water to collect fallen adults.
Vacuum: If there are a lot of weevils, you can use a shopvac to suck them up.
Spray with soapy water: Mix one tablespoon of dish soap with one quart of water in a spray bottle and spray the pests.
Use insecticides: For larger numbers of weevils, you may need to use both a soil-use insecticide and a spray insecticide. The soil insecticide will target larvae in the ground, while the spray insecticide will target mature weevils. Be sure to read the product label carefully for precautions and directions