Control methods for Vine Weevils

Non chemical

• Good hygiene especially in glasshouses. Keeping all areas free from debris reduces the number of hiding places.
• Inspect newly purchased plants and reject if infested.
• Provide physical barriers as vine weevils walk and do not fly; protect individual pots and the legs of greenhouse staging with sticky tape smeared with non drying glue or fruit grease.
• Provide good maintenance to the greenhouse by using caulk weather strips on doors, windows and cracks to greenhouse this reduces the number of entrance points for crawling insects.
• Inspect the plants at night and destroy the vine weevil.
• Regularly check that barriers have not been breached, if so repair.
• The use of biological control utilises natural predators. Either entomophathogenic fungi or entomophilic nematodes are very effective at the larvae stage and this is the best time to eradicate the vine weevil from your garden.

Chemical

There are a significant number of pesticide products available for the treatment of Vine Weevils. The use of chemicals is required for the control of adults as their extended activity period makes them difficult to eradicate. The most effective time to spray is during the evening when the adult vine weevil is active. Spray with an insecticide at first sign of leaf notching and ring-barking use either pirimiphos-methyl or bifenthrin or chlorpyrifos. Follow manufacturer’s instructions.

For the control of larvae chemical impregnated compost can be incorporated into your potting mixes. Before using any treatment consider the depth of the container before treatment as it will make a difference to quantities. Follow manufacturers’ instructions.

The older grubs have proved resilient to insecticides available to domestic gardeners which have insufficient persistence to give any lasting protection