Vine weevil's arghhhhh

Posted on 31 Mar, 2009 13 comments

I thought I would re pot my Echeveria as he looked a bit droopy and sorry for himself.
Last summer he looked fantastic and gave me absoloutely loads of new off shoots that I potted up.

He was nice and healthy but when i started to empty the pot.

I found these had been happily chewing at his roots.

Looks alright from above but as you can see in the previous pic the roots were badly damaged. I couldn’t save him but i did keep 4 healthy new shoots, and potted them up. Can you see the one in the pot in middle of the photo.

Guess how many?

39 in all, they went straight into a dish and the birds have had them.

First time I have ever had them. I have read about them but this is the first time I have come face to face with the horrible little blighters.

Comments

Sandra

there horrible little critters. one of my aeoniums was looking odd so i tipped it out and there they were. i managed to save the plant thank goodness. i do get them from time to time. echivera seems to be a favorite they also like my london pride. i have looked into the stuff they sell to combat them and i dont like it. it kills everything they come into contact with ladybirds ect...hopefully this winters frosts will have killed off a few.

31 Mar, 2009

Bulbaholic

39, thats a heck of a lot! Last week I attended to some poorly primulas in pots and found the expected vine weavil grubs. Only one or two in a pot but they were enough.

31 Mar, 2009

Olblueyes

This is the reason why I always have a day tipping out all my pots and refreshing them with fresh compost, I have suffered from these little blighters in the past. It does all the potted up stuff good to have fresh clean compost as well and I use the spent compost as mulch on my clay soil.
PS I think 39 in one pot is a record!

31 Mar, 2009

Anniekimm

did the same thing today...been watching a Heuchera in my front garden for the last few days that began looking a bit floppy. Got hold of the leaves and the whole thing came off in my hand! and there they were. Little beggars. Whole thing and surrounding soil gone in the bin after being rolled on by a big boot!!!

31 Mar, 2009

Craftnutter

39? Wow! Glad you gave them to the birds, what a lovely treat for them!

If I find any of these in my pots, I'll know what they are now! Yuk! Little pests!

Glad you've got your baby ones tho', phew!

31 Mar, 2009

Seaburngirl

i feed any i find to the fish, they love them too.

31 Mar, 2009

Pottygardener

Need to check my pots now as have a couple of plants that have done what Anniekimm describes. Thought it was a wet/cold problem but may-be it's these little devils......

31 Mar, 2009