Looking for help with Red Vine Weevils and Sourcing Natural Controls

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forums, so please forgive me if this is posted in the wrong location.

I am trying to create a garden this year. My local is partial shade to full shade. But my plants are getting eaten by Red Vine Weevils. I didn't even know I had them until I started planting my plants. I figured it out, because our wonderful Rhododendron in the front yard which has been fine for 2 years, is just getting destroyed this year and the symptoms and affects on the leaves are the same with that plant in the front yard as the plants in the backyard.

My research shows the safest way to deal with these insects is through nematodes. Most specifically Steinernema feltiae and Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. But I have been searching for 3 days now and I cannot find any suppliers in Canada. I have found a greenhouse near me that has Nematodes, but they do not appear to be the correct species to deal with this problem.

Can anyone out there help me?

Thanks
TJ

 

Check with:

• Koppert Biological Systems
• Natural Insect Control
• Biobest

It looks like no one has both products.

 

They keep asking if I see the larvae. I do not see the larvae. I see the damage. My Rhododendron in the front yard is getting eaten, my newly planted raspberry bushes in the backyard are being eaten, and my astilbe is dying, from what it appears with root damage.

I have seen some "beetles" around the plants, and I have put out stuff to deal with Slugs, but minimal slugs are being found, so the damage is definitely from something else??

TJ

 

The grubs are in the ground, often near or under the crown. In something like a small rhododendron they can be way up in there.

 

I have found that the best control is twofold.
1. Cut back shrubs so they don't touch fences or other vertical objects.
2. In spring (April in Vancouver), wrap foam around shrub trunks and secure with wide packing tape -- make sure the tape does not touch the trunk. Smear Tanglefoot on tape all the way around. In late fall, cut tape and foam off, and discard.

What you are attempting to do is keep the weevils, which overwinter/lay eggs in mulch or litter on the ground, from being able to get to the leaves. They must feed on the leaves before they can reproduce. They begin to go up looking for leaves in April-May-June around here. If there is no connection between the leaves and the ground except over the Tanglefoot your weevil problem will go away. It's not immediate, and I've found they try to come back every five years or so, but this does work.

keke

 

I use Evergro for beneficial insects and buy all of my nematodes from them as well.

They're in South Vancouver and Delta. Call 604-940-0290 and ask for the Biological Department.

Perhaps they can help.