VINE WEEVIL

[bagpuss]

I've had a very minor problem with vine weevils in the past, but this year I think I have been invaded!

I have squished about 36 of the things since Saturday afternoon (26 of them yesterday!)

Does anyone have any idea why they seem to be so numerous this year? I treat my pots, basket and small raised bed with Provado VWK, and have done so reasonably regularly. (Especially as I have a few plants they particularly like - primula, geranium, climbing hydrangea, strawberries (not treated with VWK) and fuchias).

[Chuckles]

Touch wood I'm pretty clear of them this year (so far)

You can only keep on doing what your doing Bagpuss, be really vigilant. I had a terrible time a few years ago, went out every night with torch and T bag squeezer ;D also used Provado. I got on top of them eventually. Guess there will always be some around. Don't be fooled by the favourite plant thing either, I've found them in pots of Lillies, Begonias and other plants too.

Does your neighbour have a problem as you may be getting invaded from both sides. Some folk don't realise what they are so would not treat for them. They are the scurge of the garden

[bagpuss]

Thanks Chuckles.

I did spot one in a neighbours garden which I "disposed" of, and when I next see her will mention it to her.

I will keep up my early morning and nightly vigile/VWK watering and hope for the best.

I know that they are becoming less fussy about the plants they go for (I lost an Eryngium last year to the grubs).

I did something last night which seemed to bring a few more out which was to water the wall that the Hydrangea is growing up.

[snowowl]

I have never seen the adult weevil only the grubs in my strawberry pots when its to late and the plants have turned to dust.
I have always emptied the pots and fished out the grubs and put them in a container on the bird table they dont last 2 minuets with the blackbirds.
I have succomb to using pravado in me non edible pots now but i dont like to i wish i could catch the adults.

[MamIDdau]

I found them in the containers of my dahlias and my campanulas last year lil buggers. I've provadoed etc so fingers crossed for this year.

[Barbara]

i found 2 adults in the house last week one was on my bl**dy bed

[Cheerypeabrain]

I found 2 in the garden yesterday and almost had hysterics...one on my lavenders and one in the veg bed...

I've drenched all the pots with provado, but can't do owt about the veg plot...when we dug up the taters there weren't any grubs there...but I do have strawberries in a pot....aaurgh.

I treated the herbs as well as they're all in pots and I couldn't stand them all going...we just won't be able to use the herbs in cooking...I'd never seen any vine weevils before in the garden...OH thinks that I just wasn't looking....

[Chuckles]

They are an absolute pain. Thought I was pretty clear of them but have found 4 adults in the last few days. Well I say adults, they must be this years youngsters because they didn't crunch like the adults normally do when I squidge um ;D

There will always be some around that you don't see CPB

[Barbara]

i really think they are getting worse,
we will have to come up with some-thing to get rid of the damn things.i dont hear great things about provado, and you can't put all the garden in the oven.

[nightowl]

greety said:

They are an absolute pain. Thought I was pretty clear of them but have found 4 adults in the last few days. Well I say adults, they must be this years youngsters because they didn't crunch like the adults normally do when I squidge um ;D

There will always be some around that you don't see CPB

I found one yesterday that was definitely a baby About half a cm long and perfectly formed. Soooo much harder to spot!! And I don't suppose there's any chance it was an only child

[Barbara]

no chance nolawn,
the others are probaly hiding, till you walk away ;D

[oldmoleskins]

Found one today at the base of a pot with a yew cone in it... I guess on an egg-laying expedition.

In case anyone's in any doubt what they look like:



OM.

[Barbara]

i hope you clapped your hands VERY hard ;D

[oldmoleskins]

Fed it to a very tame chaffinch...

OM.

[Shrubrose]

I've had those in my garden. But cant say that I've noticed much damage. <naivesmiley> Am I in for some bad times then?

[Deleted]

I think one of the problems is that they are often in plants bought at garden centres. I found them on a very expensive pot plant last year which keeled over from one day to the next. I killed the adults - same way as I kill the lily beetles, keep gloves handy and SQUASH them and then poured boiling water over the soil in the pot and put it in the houselhole rubbish.
I keep a photo above my computer to be ready and also keep bought pot plants in quarantine - don't plant them out for a week or two and, so far, have kept free of the b......s
Don't like killing anything, but lily beetles and vine weevils are in the same league as bluebottles. EXTERMINATE - EXTERMINATE!!

[oldmoleskins]

shrubrose said:

I've had those in my garden. But cant say that I've noticed much damage. <naivesmiley> Am I in for some bad times then?

Not neccessarily, but if you notice an otherwise fine and established plant, particularly (but not exclusively potted) that stops thriving, it could be vine weevil - or the larvae stage, a creamy coloured maggot with an orange head - munching on the roots. If you find them, the 'treatment' other than removing all compost from around the roots (not a bad idea) and burning/dumping it in Jeyes Fluid, something radical, (the compost and larvae, not the plant!) is a chemical called 'Provado', as mentioned above...

OM.

[MamIDdau]

I emailed Bayer about the use of Provado on open ground.

May 24, 2007 17:49:13 GMT MamIDdau said:

Response from Bayer

Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2 is only registered for use in pots and containers as for effective control of the vine weevil grubs and plant root damage it is essential to get the right concentration of product around the plants roots. It is not possible to achieve this in the open ground without causing an environmental hazard, consequently use in the open ground is not permitted. The only treatment that can be used in an open ground situation is Nemasys nematodes but usually root damage is less critical as there is more space for the roots and more predators to reduce vine weevil populations.

Provado Vine Weevil Killer is a very safe insecticide which is absorbed into the plant roots and prevents vine weevil grubs from feeding. Although hatching eggs and small vine weevil grubs will be killed directly more mature grubs may survive for some time but will no longer be able to damage the plant roots. The product has no effect on earthworms or predatory beetles but since it is absorbed into the plant will give systemic control of plant sucking pests such as aphids. Since there may well be chemical residues in plants with this treatment, it was decided not to carry out the necessary studies to enable consumption of treated plants and, consequently, the product should not be used on any edible plants.

As the adult vine weevils are quite a mobile pest you will continue to find re-invasion from other areas including neighbouring gardens and all we can do is to provide protection against the most damaging aspect of the pest ie root damage in our pots and containers. Treatment of plants does not control the adults or the leaf notching caused by adults. To control adults this can be done by physically trapping them by shaking plants over a sheet or spraying them with a contact insecticide such as Bug Free or Sprayday Greenfly Killer when they are active ie at dusk or during the night.

[nightowl]

oldmoleskins said:

shrubrose said:

I've had those in my garden. But cant say that I've noticed much damage. <naivesmiley> Am I in for some bad times then?

Not neccessarily, but if you notice an otherwise fine and established plant, particularly (but not exclusively potted) that stops thriving, it could be vine weevil - or the larvae stage, a creamy coloured maggot with an orange head - munching on the roots. If you find them, the 'treatment' other than removing all compost from around the roots (not a bad idea) and burning/dumping it in Jeyes Fluid, something radical, (the compost and larvae, not the plant!) is a chemical called 'Provado', as mentioned above...

OM.

I have also found, specially in the spring, in the same sort of places as you find the larvae (btw RM, they are C shaped as well), some creamy coloured alien-monster looking things, a tad bigger than the larvae and halfway to the adult shape. I assume these are exactly what they look to be and squish 'em! Lovely! ;D

Anyone else seen these mini-monsters?

[Shrubrose]

Thanks for the advice. I shall now pay close attention. I haven't noticed damage particularly but will be vigilant from now on.

Shrub

[Chuckles]

Shrub there are some pics of all 3 life stages of the VW on here gardenworld.proboards103.com/index.cgi?board=chat&action=display&thread=1175166682#1175630351

[Shrubrose]

Thanks Chuckles for the info - I think . When you think what's in your garden - makes me wonder how I manage to go out there <scaredsmiley>

[Chuckles]

Sat at my sisters the other night in her conservatory and what did I spot crawling on the roof on the inside too You got it and it didn't half make a noise and mess on the glass when I squished it

[Plocket]

I've found a few Vine Weevils in the garden recently so have done the Provado thing, but I can't help wondering if there are any ways I can deter the wee beasties. I know they like laying their eggs in containers but there's no way I'm going to get rid of the vast number of containers I have in my garden, so does anyone have any Vine Weevil prevention tips? I did wonder whether putting a mulch of grit or gravel down might help. Any suggestions welcomed!!

Ta!

[Chuckles]

I've heard it said that the small rough grit/gravel can deter the adults from laying thier eggs in pots. Some of my pot have it on but they are plants that aren't normally effected by VW so I can't vouch for it P. Let us know how you get on though if you try it

[Plocket]

Well I've put flint around some of the clematis to hopefully help put off the slugs, and yesterday I treated the pots with Provado so I won't be able to say whether it's successful or not. It's just that Provado is hardly "green" and it's expensive! A cheap organic alternative would of course be preferable.

[bagpuss]

Hi P

As Vine Weevils can't swim if you fill a plant pot saucer with water, then get place another pot saucer upside down in that then stand the plant pot on that, that can apparently help. I can't say that I have tried it.

Dressing with coarse grit (although it has to be a good deep layer of it, also apparently works well and I have done this with success (at the moment!).

My own problem with them this year, seems to have diminished to the odd one or two, but that's mainly been down to stalking them like a woman possessed and squishing them or "frying" them with my electric fly swotter! ;D

Hope this helps.

Good luck

[Chuckles]

The saucer and water idea makes sense to me bagpuss. Like you I do the woman possessed bit too, must get batteries for torch and find my trusty teabag squeazer ;D

[Plocket]

Yes I like the double saucer and water idea too - I might have to give that a go ;D

Oooh you've got some evil ideas for killing bugs. I'm too squeemish to go out hunting

[Chuckles]

I used to be squeeeeeeemish but now find that if I'm in the garden and come across a dreaded VW or LB and don't have the tools ;D to hand they get it between the fingers