Strawberry Blossom Weevil - Raspberry Blossom Weevil 

The Strawberry Blossom Weevil - which also attacks Raspberries and Blackberries - has a crafty way of ensuring the success of her young.

Firstly it lays its eggs inside the flower bud, then partially gnaws through the stem below. This ensures that the flower will wilt and eventually drop to the ground where the larvae then lives in the ground - to emerge as an adult the following May-June.
                 
The beetle - weevil - is dark brown to black and just 2 or 3 mm long, with a 'snout' similar to most other weevil beetles.

Main damage and Symptoms of the Strawberry Blossom Weevil

The typical damage to leaves by most weevils, are the 'notches' cut into the leaf edges. Holes in the leaves and leaf stalk, together with wilting of the flower buds. The wilting is caused by a/ the eating of the inner flower bud by the weevil larvae, and also by the partial cutting of the stem by the adult after laying the eggs.

Plants become stunted later as the larvae fall to the ground and feed upon roots and crown during the year - including mild winters.

Treatment

One treatment each year is normally enough to control this pest. Provado sprayed direct to tight flower buds and to surrounding soil, will kill adults and active larvae of the strawberry - Raspberry - Blossom weevil.

If the description is similar, but the beetles are seen to be metallic green - not black, then it could also be the Strawberry Rhynchites