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Grubs on my Aquilegia seedlings

Sid

By Sid

Hereford, United Kingdom

I was having a bit of a potter in my greenhouse, and lifted the lid on my Aquilegia seedlings in order to admire their progress and discovered that some had keeled over. First of all, I thought it was damping off, but on closer inspection I discovered some tiny white worms or maggots wriggling around in the compost! I sprayed the tray with insecticide, but I'm not sure this will help or not. Does anyone know what these critters are?


On plant Aquilegia


Answers

 

Hi Sid

Sounds just like what I have found in some of my tubs and pots - the dreaded vine weevil! I have just used them on mine as this is the time of the year when the grubs are active.

Are the cresent shaped and about half an inch long? I put it up on my blog a week or so ago.

Hope that helps.

9 Apr, 2008

 

Time to cook your compost.... put it in an old roaster and put it in your oven...raise the temp of the compost to 212 degrees for ten minutes. that should kill off anything undesireable that's in the soil.

9 Apr, 2008

 

Nice Lori dread to think whats on the menu for sunday lunch.Isnt Aquilegeia also kown as Grannies Bonnet ? Could be moths.

9 Apr, 2008

Sid
Sid
 

Hi folks - thanks for all the suggestions. I guess they could be vine weevil grubs, but they are extremely small at the mo - I've got good eye-sight, but even I can hardly see them - I suppose they are about 2mm in length? So too small to fish out and feed to the birdies, Buzzbee!

Lori - not sure my poor Aquilegias will survive 212 degrees for 10 minutes!! ha ha ha....

Bonkers - yes, Aquilegias = Grannies Bonnets!

10 Apr, 2008

 

In that case they are the larva of the fungus gnat which is a nuisance in peat based composts. They do eat the roots of seedlings and damage the emerging shoot. There are specific insecticides to deal with them.

10 Apr, 2008

Sid
Sid
 

Oh, dear - that does seem more likely, Owdboggy. Fungus gnats - are those the little tiny flies that live on the surface of the compost? I have loads of those :-( Thanks for advice. Sarah.

10 Apr, 2008

How do I say thanks?

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