The black vine weevil, also known as the taxus weevil, (Otiorhynchus sulcatus, F._) is a pest of over a hundred cultivated plants, flowers, weeds, and trees. Most gardeners see these insects on woody ornamentals, such as yew, hemlock, white cedar, pine and spruce.
Black vine weevils are dark brown to black in colour and are 6-9 mm long. The adults are nocturnal and hide on stems or in litter and mulch during the day. These beetles cannot fly since their wings are fused together. Adult feeding injury appears as marginal notching on leaves or needles, particularly those closest to the soil, on the innermost portions of the plant.
The larvae are highly destructive. They feed on roots and bark, causing foliar symptoms of poor colour and growth. Severely damaged plants often wilt and die. The larvae are white with a brown head, legless, and C-shaped. Pupation occurs in the soil. One generation occurs each year.
The key to successful use of beneficial nematodes is sufficient time for multiplication of the nematodes in hosts (weevil larvae) and dispersal of nematodes throughout the soil.
Early- to mid-May application has given excellent results, especially when the numbers of larvae of the next weevil generation are evaluated in the autumn.
Late summer (September) will control the overwintering population.
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10 million covers 50m2 (500ft2)
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