How big are these weevils? Big enough to see on a leaf? Ladybird size or bigger? I've never seen one, only pictures. I'm also wondering where they would hide during the daytime. They surely can't travel 3-5 miles, I find that very hard to believe.
@Lizzie27@K67 The 3-5 miles was from tests in a lab whilst they were being monitored. I think it was to highlight that they are "good walkers" and climbers. I don't think they're out walking the streets looking for plants...I might have made it sound like that
Maybe from next door though...
They are about two ladybirds big.
You would not miss one if it were sitting on a leaf. During the day they hide in the plants; under pots; under the rims of pots; in cracks in walls; in any debris in corners...
They fall into the soil when disturbed by movement and tuck their legs in so they are hard to spot on soil.
How big are these weevils? Big enough to see on a leaf? Ladybird size or bigger? I've never seen one, only pictures. I'm also wondering where they would hide during the daytime. They surely can't travel 3-5 miles, I find that very hard to believe.
Here's a couple from the six or seven I found tonight. 5p for scale but they're pretty big as weevils go. I've found one or two hiding under pots during the day but I think they're usually in the soil and leaf litter. They could easily cross a garden or two in a night with the speed that they can walk but given that they're not too fussy on what they eat I'm not convinced they'd bother moving far.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Ugh @wild edges , I'm rather glad I didn't see any last night. Would it be possible they dropped off the hellebore leaves if the security light activated as I walked past it?
Ugh @wild edges , I'm rather glad I didn't see any last night. Would it be possible they dropped off the hellebore leaves if the security light activated as I walked past it?
In my experience it's not light that scares them off. I shine my torch on them and they carry on walking, nibbling etc. It's when you make vibrations (touching the plant or pot) that they fall to the ground seeking camouflage safety.
The mice kept me company tonight. One secretively scrunching away among the windfallen apples and another delicately picking seed pods off a wild geranium by my foot. I found five weevils, six if you count the one I found in broad daylight this afternoon. The UV light theory turned out to be useless for hunting them though sadly.
If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
Still looking and still finding. 4 tonight plus a few slugs, earwigs, tiny spiders and a red fast moving insect that raced down the brollie. Something new I thought, too big for a ladybird, don't have lilies. Turned out to be a berry from the vibernum! In my defense it was dark and the torch was dim.
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Maybe from next door though...
They are about two ladybirds big.
You would not miss one if it were sitting on a leaf. During the day they hide in the plants; under pots; under the rims of pots; in cracks in walls; in any debris in corners...
They fall into the soil when disturbed by movement and tuck their legs in so they are hard to spot on soil.
Best time to look is after dark with a torch.
Something new I thought, too big for a ladybird, don't have lilies.
Turned out to be a berry from the vibernum!
In my defense it was dark and the torch was dim.