What Is The Life Cycle Of A Vine Weevil?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Black vine weevil develops through four life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult . Overwintering is primarily as late instars (older larvae) or prepupae. A few individuals may overwinter as adults. Weevils overwintering as late instars pupate in late winter to spring.

How do you kill vine weevils?

  1. It is best to physically remove them. Collect them at night by torchlight, whilst they are feeding. ...
  2. Use a specially formulated vine weevil chemical control on ornamental plants in pots or containers. Spray the plants with a systemic and contact insecticide* at dusk on mild evenings.

Where do vine weevils go during the day?

Therefore, vine weevils cannot fly but can walk very well. They are strictly nocturnal; during the day they hide, and can often be found between the inside of a plant pot and its contents , under lumps of e, in vegetation and under planks etc.

What is the life cycle of a weevil?

There are 4 larval instars, and the developmental period is from 3 to 5 weeks. Pupation within the kernel requires 5 to 16 days. The life cycle is about 30 to 40 days during the summer, and 123 to 148 days during the winter , depending on temperature.

How long do vine weevil nematodes live?

Once applied to pots and affected soil areas, the nematodes will remain active for up to 4 weeks . If vine weevil is a serious problem in your garden or allotment then you can now fight back on two fronts.

Will Jeyes fluid kill vine weevil?

It is harmful to animals if ingested . This suggests it would kill vine weevil grubs and harm anything that ate them.

Will soapy water kill vine weevil?

Vine Weevils

Vine weevil larvae and adults attack indoor and outdoor plants alike. ... It’s best to kill off the bugs before they can lay their eggs by hand-picking them from plants and throwing them in a bucket of soapy water . If this doesn’t work, try using nematodes to kill off the infestation.

What are the signs of vine weevil?

  • Adult weevils are approximately 9mm (about 5/16in) long and dull black with dirty yellow mark on the wing cases. They cause irregular-shaped notches of leaf margins during the summer.
  • The plump c-shaped white legless grubs have light brown heads and are up to 10mm (about 3/8in) long.

Can you see vine weevil eggs?

If you spot golden-brown or clear egg-like objects in the soil or compost then they’re NOT vine weevil eggs. Vine weevil eggs are brown and tiny and you’d need a hand lens to see them.

Can you drown vine weevil grubs?

The advice seems to be to submerge the plant (not the top growth) in water for 48 hours . This is not long enough to damage the plant significantly but apparently it does drown the vine weevils.

Do weevils carry diseases?

Weevils pose no physical threat to humans. Whether indoors or out, weevils only eat plants, nuts, seeds, grain, fruits, roots, etc. They aren’t known to carry or transmit any diseases or parasites . They are simply a nuisance that can cause monetary loss in the form of food and plant life.

How does weevil infestation start?

Weevils usually infest grains and starches like rice, flour, pasta, and cereals. Weevil infestations that start outside may be the result of fruit trees or gardens , which are also food sources. The insects often gather on the sides of homes and move into cracks and gaps that lead inside.

How fast do weevils multiply?

In just 14 days, larvae hatch and begin to grow; within 21 days , the larvae grow and repeat the reproductive process. Weevils feast on the grain and then leave their eggs on the plant.

Are vine weevil active in winter?

About Black vine weevil

Adults are mainly nocturnal and only feed at night. ... Most adults will die in late autumn when cold weather sets in. Although those in houses can often survive into the next year. Overwintering larvae will feed on the deep roots in the soil and pupate around late April to early May.

Do birds eat vine weevil grubs?

Both vine weevil adults and grubs have numerous natural predators – including birds, frogs, ground beetles, hedgehogs and toads – so do what you can to encourage these into your garden. There are biological controls for vine weevil larvae, based on nematodes, these are watered onto the compost or soil.

What plants do vine weevils not like?

Which plants do vine weevils not like? Plants with fragrant leaves seem to be less frequently attacked by adult weevils. Plant Lavender , Lemon Balm, Geranium macrorrhizum, and Mint. They also seem less attracted to furry leaves such as those of Stachys byzantina.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.