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broad beans

United Kingdom Gb

what can be eating the roots of my 4week old plants?
cannot find any sign of grubs or slugs in this clean soil.
many thanks




Answers

 

Diseases: same as those of horse bean.
.
- Principal European pests: the most serious is the black bean aphid (Aphis fabae) which forms colonies on the stems. The stem nematode (Ditylenchus dipsaci) deforms the stem, leaves and pods. Other damage is caused by the (Frankliniella robusta).
The bean beetle (Bruchus rufimanus) eats stored seeds.

But it is more likley------ The Weevils belong to a very successful family of beetles (Curculionidae) with more than 50,000 species worldwide. They vary in size from small seed weevils, less than 2 mm long, to the large pine weevils, 20-25 mm long. Adult weevils are fairly easy to recognise since nearly all have a characteristic rostrum or snout projecting forward from the head, with mandibles or jaws at the tip. Some species have a very long rostrum, which may exceed the length of the rest of the body, but generally the rostrum is much shorter. In addition, most species have distinctly elbowed antennae. The larval stages are relatively featureless white or yellowish grubs, usually legless, but with a well-developed head and jaws. Adults and larvae of all species feed either on living or on dead plant tissues. The larvae of many species feed enclosed inside the roots, stems or seeds of plants, and some of these types can become serious pests of agricultural crops, garden plants and stored food products. The examples illustrated here include the main species found in Europe that frequently attack garden ornamentals, fruit and vegetables.

16 Jun, 2008

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