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The evil weevil: the fight goes on.
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Posted by garden_nerd UK Central (My Page) on Tue, Jun 6, 06 at 15:10
| I killed my first adult vine weevil this morning. (Tone of grim satisfaction) However, there will be more, the fight is not over. They did not seem like so much of a problem last summer, which I attribute to a ruthless search and destroy mission on the white peril whilst repotting my lilies.
Apparently, they hatch around now, the adults spending the next 4 weeks or so feeding before laying hundreds of eggs into my precious plant pots. So, I figure that if I control the adults now, I can reduce the problem when the eggs hatch later in the summer.
So, anyone got any good tips for home made weevil traps? I was planning on stuffing eggboxes with a bit of damp straw, hoping the weevils will use it as a daytime hotel, and disposing of the contents each day. A bit Blue-Peterish, but it might work. Double-sided selotape would be worth a try as well. Any other ideas? Has to be cheap and organic! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: The evil weevil: the fight goes on.
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| Some plants are more suseptable than others.. Primulas, Fuschias and Sedums are particularly vunerable. I use Provado weevil killer and have not lost a plant I have treated ..yet. Wilko is the cheapeast place for Provado (6.99) and if you wait until august they usually knock 25 -50% off !!! I treat all my potted Heucheras , Primulas and Hydrangeas towards the end of August ( a major and expensive task !) I also go on night time weevil and slug hunts by torch light ( weevils are nocturnal ). Remember all weevils are female and do not need to mate to lay eggs (Parthenogenesis) so each one you eliminate is reducing the problem. Also the grubs larvae are loved by birds so put them on the bird table !! |
RE: The evil weevil: the fight goes on.
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| Hmm the bird table idea aught to work for the horse chestnut problem too. As I walked in from the garden I stopped at the glass door to admire my work and watched a sparrow come right up to me totally unafraidand dealt with a large moth the thickness of the door form my feet. Fierce in tooth and claw but astonishing. Who needs an hide? Next year some nest boxes, I think. What aperture sizes do I need for sparrows and tits? |
RE: The evil weevil: the fight goes on.
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| Hi lklevy - I won't use Provado because I am (mainly) organic. That's why I am resorting to search and destroy methods! I have certainly found sedums susceptible, though. Also lilies, but anything in pots, really. Weatherlawyer - what are you on? This is a thread about vine weevil! Or have I missed something? |
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