Vine weevils

Just thought I'd relate a bit of this afternoon's gardening. Thought it was time to plant out some cowslips (Primula veris) which I grew from seed (sown winter 2018/19). Last year, I planted most of them in the local Park from which I collected the seed in the first place (not all that many cowslips in the Park). But I kept 4 for myself - didn't get round to planting in the lawn last year. Deciding to do it today, thought they weren't doing very well, considering they should be starting their vigorous spring growth. Tipped the worst one out of its pot - sure enough, full of vine-weevil larvae (white C-shaped grubs). They particularly like members of the Primulaceae family (so Cyclamen as well). In their usual way, they'd eaten though all the large roots just below the leaf-rosette - so plenty good roots at the bottom of the pot - just no longer attached to the plant! The first plant was a goner, but the other 3 still had various quantities of root attached, so I cleaned off the soil, washed off the roots, and finally got them planted. As for 20 or so vine-weevil larvae: I held them out in my hand for my tame blackbird. She flew up and seemingly recoiled in horror - "Those aren't sultanas or mealworms!". I should have persisted for a minute or two, but I put them on the ground (on a paving slab - didn't want them getting away), and she promptly ate all of them. She's looking at me through the window now - probably wants more!

The carnivorous plants (Sarracenia), grown in pots outdoors all year, are probably full of vine-weevil as well. Not sure there's much I can do about it - maybe some of those nematodes? But I think, in their permanently wet soil, Sarracenia can probably get over losing most of their roots, and grow more from their rhizomes.