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Vine weevil
Otiorhynchus sulcatus
Adult vine weevils nibble leaves at night, but it is their grubs that kill plants. They live in the compost and eat the roots over autumn and winter, so a plant can look fine until it suddenly collapses.
- Found inPots, containers, beds and nursery stock
- Best time to treatSpring and late summer to autumn
The grub: C-shaped, creamy-white, no legs 
The adult: a dull black weevil 
The damage: notched leaf edges
Signs
How to tell you have vine weevil
- Irregular notches bitten out of leaf edges
- Plants wilting or collapsing even though the compost is moist
- Plants that lift out of the pot with few roots left
- C-shaped, creamy-white grubs with a brown head and no legs in the compost
How to check
Tip a struggling plant out of its pot and look through the root ball. Also check under pots and in the evening with a torch for the dark, slow-moving adults.
Timing
When to treat
Grubs feedingBest time to treat
Treat in late summer to autumn to catch the new grubs, and again in spring for any that survived the winter. Use nematop when compost is above 12°C, and nemamax in cooler conditions from 8°C.
The treatment
Nematodes for vine weevil
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nematop - Vine Weevil Nematodes
Heterorhabditis bacteriophora, for compost above 12°C.
From €19.95
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nemamax - Vine Weevil & Chafer Grub Nematodes
Heterorhabditis downesi, keeps working down to 8°C.
From €24.95
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nematop weevil stop - Adult Vine Weevil Trap
Trap for the adult weevils, May to September, so fewer eggs are laid.
€22.95
Delivered across Ireland by tracked courier, packed to stay fresh. Order by 10:00 on Wednesday for delivery the following week. Days can change around bank holidays in Ireland and Germany.
Why biological control
Natural pest control, without the drawbacks
Chemical pesticides can leave residues behind in the garden. Beneficial nematodes work differently. They hunt the pest in the soil, then die back naturally once it is gone.
No chemical residues
Nematodes are living organisms, not chemicals, so there are no chemical residues on lawns, fruit or vegetables.
Safe around people and pets
Safe to use around children, pets and wildlife. You can use the garden as normal after watering them in.
A targeted effect
Each nematode seeks out its target pest in the soil and leaves everything else alone.
Found naturally in soil
Beneficial nematodes already live in healthy soil. We simply add more where the pests are.
Works differently from sprays
Nematodes hunt pests and enter their bodies, a completely different way of working from chemical sprays.
How to apply
Six simple steps
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Store cold
Fridge at 2–8°C. Never freeze.
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Pick your time
Evening or a dull day, soil 12°C+.
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Mix
Stir the pack into a bucket of water.
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Apply
Water it on. Keep stirring as you go.
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Water in
Keep soil moist for 2 weeks.
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See results
Nematodes start working within days of watering in.
Everything you need comes in the pack. Delivered across Ireland, packed to stay fresh.