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Vine weevils??

Amy_rettoAmy_retto Posts: 4
in Plants
Hi,

I wonder if anyone can help me. For the last two years we've been plagued by these bugs in our garden, which have managed to munch through a huge amount of leaves and plants. We assume that they are vine weevils, and have used nemotodes to destroy any larvae, but it's the adults that are now causing a lot of damage again - see below photos. I have used Provado Ultimate Bug Killer several times, but they keep coming back across the whole garden and I'm worried about using too much spray. There are now signs of them in our hedge too, so I wondered if there was a large scale solution I could get as opposed to a handheld spray gun??

Many thanks,

Amy.

Posts

  • Fishy65Fishy65 Posts: 2,276
    Hi Amy, it looks like you are doing all you can to tackle your vine weevil problem. However, can I say that the liberal use of pesticides is likely going to kill your nematodes along with beneficial insects that would prey on weevils, such as ground beetles. If it were me, I would stop using the spray and keep up the nematodes. Also you could provide hiding places for beetles and/or build a pond to encourage frogs and toads. This March just gone I counted 19 frogs in my pond and I have a negligible weevil problem. Good luck.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I'd agree with Fishy - Provado certainly works to kill vine weevils, but it's now pretty conclusively linked with the decline in honey bees.  I really wouldn't use it any more, if I were you - keep up with the nematodes twice a year, and you'll get on top of the vine weevil adults as well as the grubs (because adults grow from grubs, of course).
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • Amy_rettoAmy_retto Posts: 4
    Thanks for your comments folks, I really appreciate it.
  • Mary370Mary370 Posts: 2,003
    Gosh they really have done a lot of damage to your plants..............hopefully you'll have won the battle against the weevils by this time next year.  Good luck
  • FirecrackerFirecracker Posts: 256
    Amy that is as if you've taken a picture in our garden :'(  
  • Amy_rettoAmy_retto Posts: 4
    They're awful aren't they. I've just been out and squashed about 17 of the little blighters, but they're just everywhere!! I've got two boxes of nemotodes arriving tomorrow so I'll be putting them to good use and declaring all out war on the weevils!!!!!!
  • green beangreen bean Posts: 11
    You and I have same problems with dreaded weevils, plus I seem to have a mini version on the euonymus...theadvisor at my garden centre advised picking off the adults just as they come out to play. I bought myself a headtorch and now pick them off and take great delight throwing them into a large jar of water with a lid,  as they cant swim. I thought I might get a few, but in a month have caught 600+ and thats just in a half hour a night! I was advised to ditch all soil in pots at the end of the season. Also when replanting, soak the new pots in the insecticide if you are using it. She also said that where they feed isnt necessarily where they lay their eggs eek! As I have seen a couple of large toads, I am switching to nematodes. Pity the toads cant climb up the bushes haha Last night I even found a weevil munching half way up a lovely zinnia. I think they came in on some cyclamen plants. Let me know how you get on
  • Amy_rettoAmy_retto Posts: 4
    They're awful things aren't they!! I've been out most evenings now for a few weeks and average about 15each evening from our small back garden, but I have to say I do quite enjoy the sharp crunch sound they make when you stand on them!! We've put down two boxes of nemotodes (front and back gardens) two weeks ago and will repeat the treatment come September, but by the looks of it our entire estate has a massive problem, so I think it's more like damage control at the moment as opposed to defeating them. It's a fairly new housing estate so we're assuming the garden centre who supplied the plants for the landscaping had contaminated soil, hence everyone has them. I'm telling everyone I know about how to deal with them, but it feels like a losing battle to be honest. Hopefully though by this time next year we'll have far fewer as the nemotodes should have done their work on the larvae - fingers crossed. I did unfortunately have to take down a large bush from our front garden last week as the root on the one side had been completely munched through - I'd been wondering why it fell over at the start of the year!! Ours don't seem too keen on the hydrangea mind, which is heard they were partial to. However they have recently started enjoying the big castor oil plant in the corner.......Grrrrrr!! I hope that your battle is going better than ours!!!
  • gardeninglily1gardeninglily1 Posts: 424
    I have moved all my heucheras into hanging baskets this year as they weren’t putting on much growth in the ground. Anyway they have loved it and are lush and still flowering their socks off. I’ve never had a problem with vine weevil but is it a good time to treat the baskets now with nematodes just to be on the safe side? I can’t bear to think of them munching on the roots all winter if I can prevent it. The heucheras have done so well this summer and I’d like to look after them and they’ll be ever better next year! (If those pesky blighters don’t turn up - I’m being polite!) 
  • green beangreen bean Posts: 11
    I have talked to the nematode supplier at length. As we have a fair sized garden we are using the 100sqm pack to water on. It didnt take long. She said because its still warm, we could retreat at the beginning of October in case they are still laying. By then, our pots will be empty so all the effort can go on the beds and shrubs. We also plan to retreat with nematodes in April. And every six months thereafter. It is a pity to be considering no planted pots, but if we can break the cycle, it will be worth it. I am finding less black weevils in our rear garden, just the area that was next to the pots is still plagued with the little ones. I think the extra hot weather has speeded up the weevil breeding cycle. She also said clear away any leaf litter under shrubs and any old pots where adults can shelter by day. I hope your gardening neighbours are on the case with the weevil hunt, good luck
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