New England to Idaho, south to Florida and Louisiana. The adult rhubarb curculio overwinters in plant debris or protected locations. In late spring adults become active and appear on leaves of rhubarb and alternate weed hosts, such as sunflower, dock, and thistle.
Females lay eggs in plant stalks where larvae emerge in about a week to a week and a half.
If eggs are deposited in rhubarb the rapidly growing plant tissue ruptures eggs and, thus, no larvae hatch. However, on alternate hosts larvae hatch from eggs and tunnel down through the stalk. Larvae pupate at the base of host plants in the soil. Adults emerge in a few weeks and feed until temperatures begin to drop when they find suitable hiberation locations. One generation of rhubarb curculio occurs annually.