Landscape and Nursery - Black Vine Weevil Adults are Out

Black vine weevil adults are out now and are feeding on host plants. The following is a short article on the subject.

Adult black vine weevils are out and active at night notching the margin of leaves. These weevils are flightless so they tend to re-infest the same areas over and over. Look for black vine weevil feeding on taxus yews, rhododendrons, heuchera, hostas, toadlilly, and bergenia. Females (only females are present) willstart laying eggs this month in the soil and legless larvae will feed on the roots of plants.

Control; Treat soil with soil drenches of Bifentrhin (Talstar). Foliage can be treated with Acephate (Orthene).

Black vine weevil adult. Photo from Peggy Greb, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Bugwood.org

Leaf notching by black vine weevil. Photo by Eric R. Day, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

Information from the July 25, 2008 edition of the TPM/IPM Weekly Report for Arborists, Landscape Managers & Nursery Managers from University of Maryland Cooperative Extension.