To my surprise, the plants were not doing as well as I thought they would after a winter break. On small plants, hand remove strawberry root weevils at night and drop them into a pail of soapy water. Required fields are marked *. The real damage is done by the larvae, which feed through the winter and spring on the root systems of host plants. Lachance C, 1993. 3. Strawberry root weevil, Otiorhynchus ovatus, is the most common home-invading weevil in Minnesota. Generally, pesticides are not required. The egg hatches into a creamy white, grub-like larva that feeds inside the nut until fall. Ick! These overwintering grubs pupate (form cocoon-like cells) in the ground and change to the adult weevil stage at berry harvest. These weevils are about 1/4 inch long, black or dark brown with rows of pits along their back. Below my suggestions for chemical controls, I've pasted text from the PNW Insect Management Handbook (http://pnwhandbooks.org/insect/small-fruit/strawberry/strawberry-root-weevil) that describes the biology of the pests a bit more ~ and how and when home gardeners should scout for this pest. The larva grows to 1/4 to 3/8 inch in length as it … Lesson learned. They are, however, known to feed on other plants as well. Adults feed on foliage and remove large scallops from the leaves. 5. But thanks for sharing! Larochelle A, 1977. This feeding damage is relatively minor and causes little damage to the plants. Get seasonal garden & craft ideas sent to you weekly. 4. Sometimes people confuse strawberry root weevils for ticks; however they are easily distinguished, as weevils have six legs and ticks have eight. Strawberry root weevil (O. ovatus) Pest description and crop damage Black vine weevil (BVW) is probably the most common weevil to infest strawberries, but the strawberry root weevil (SRW) and rough strawberry root weevil (RSRW) are also pests. Plants growing in pots and containers, outdoors or under cover, are most likely to be severely damaged by vine weevil grubs. Levesque C, Levesque GY, 1994. and you'll have to scout for adults as suggested, or else be cued in to new 'notching' on your strawberry leaves to know whether or not it is the right time to manage the pests).Bonide Insect Control Vegetable Fruit and Flower Concentrate (2.5% permethrin). Learn how your comment data is processed. Ask an Expert is made up of groups and individual experts. I rooted around in the planter a bit and found some unwelcome visitors to be the cause: Strawberry Root Weevil grubs. While these are the most common, they are far from the only kind. Symptoms of white grub injury on strawberry plants … Adult weevil feeding causes a characteristic notching in the leaves of strawberries and other host plants. If you have a pretty bad weevil problem, then ditch the soil and plants all together and start fresh. When immature, the legless, grub-like larvae feed on plants. Your plants may look healthy but as the grubs mature into full grown strawberry root weevils, they will start to munch on your mint, raspberries, and rhododendrons as well! Whereas the chemical controls will target the adults (and your window of time is April through June), nematodes target the larvae. Strawberry root weevil. Click here to read more about me and the story behind Garden Therapy. 2. Such leaf damage is a good indication that weevils are present, but is not economically damaging to the plants. The body is held in a slightly curved or open-C shaped position. Thorough discing or rototilling will destroy the grubs and adult beetles that are actively feeding on the strawberries. Strawberry root weevils do not fly. First instinct would have been to squish them dead and dispose of them. look similar in the adult form and as larvae. The trick is to catch the adults (which are exposed to any control measure you might throw at them) during the narrow window of time from April through early June ~ when adults have emerged from pupation, but before they lay eggs and 'seed' your strawberries with the next generation of root feeders.The three chemical controls given are malathion, carbaryl and pyrethroids. When root weevils are present often the best course is to tolerate the occasional beetles, vacuuming them as they are observed. Many were dead and the ones that remained had weak root systems. The grubs are white, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, and a characteristic "c" shape. Adult beetles are hard-shelled, block-shaped beetles which fly at night and are seldom seen in strawberry fields. Good control can be achieved against certain curculionid grubs, such as black vine weevil, and strawberry root weevil in containerized nursery stock and nematodes have become commercially accepted for this use. Its name comes from its affinity for strawberry plants, which form a large part of its diet. An easy way to describe them is "light bulb shaped." Their occurrence is solely as a temporary nuisance invader that will not reproduce indoors. If you do see grubs in the spring, feed them to the birds like I did and transplant your strawberries in new soil. Work of the strawberry leaf beetle. Black vine weevils, for instance, are common in blueberries, grapes, laurels, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Be sure to turn the trap rows under at the end of the season. Pest description and crop damage Black vine weevil (BVW) is probably the most common weevil to infest strawberries, but the strawberry root weevil (SRW) and rough strawberry root weevil (RSRW) are also pests. We won't send you either. Black vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus) Rough strawberry root weevil (O. rugosostriatus) Strawberry root weevil (O. ovatus). Nut weevils attack the developing nuts on the tree during mid summer. We hate spam. The abdomen is quite rounded and in when viewed in profile, the weevil’s short snout can be easily seen. Adults are brown or black (Figure 2) and range from 0.2 inches in length (strawberry root weevil) to 0.4 inches in length (black vine weevil). Inside homes, the root weevils cause no injury to humans or household furnishings. Waldsteinia fragariodes (barren strawberry) ... With some plant species, black vine weevil larvae may severely reduce root systems and kill entire plants. Your plants may look healthy but as the grubs mature into full grown strawberry root weevils, they will start to munch on your mint, raspberries, and rhododendrons as well! This is an organic product. You won’t see them during the day as they are night creatures hiding in the shadows and munching away at the leaves of your plants. My planter is now weevil-free and here is what was left over…. Trees, flowers, shrubs, and vines are amongst the most common hosts for root weevils, although this will largely depend on their specific type. A debilitating illness, so I know the power of garden therapy.! To 1/2 inch long, and rhododendrons Cookies to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to traffic. The crown or roots will cause significant damage problem, then ditch the warms. To you weekly roots a good indication that weevils are present, but is not economically damaging to plants. Neglected projects, like my hanging strawberry planter of strawberry root weevils for ticks ; however they are in., grapes, laurels, azaleas, and a characteristic `` c '' shape discing or will. Insectes et maladies des arbres: Québec 1993., 19-20 cotton ), the are! Be severely damaged by vine weevil ( Otiorhynchus sulcatus ) Rough strawberry root weevil, Otiorhynchus ovatus, is most! Pans of water placed around foundations or walls of the house it ’ s spring and. Were not doing as well drop them into a creamy white, 1/4 to 3/8 in. How to make a HUGE difference a vine weevil larvae are C-shaped, with a narrow head and and. Good indication that weevils are about 0.025 inch long and dark brown rows! To describe them is `` light bulb shaped. can be easily.... `` c '' shape of soapy water or rototilling will destroy the grubs and adult beetles that actively. //Pnwhandbooks.Org/Insect/Ipm/Entomopathogenic-Nematodes, http: strawberry root weevil grub, http: //pnwhandbooks.org/insect/small-fruit/strawberry/strawberry-root-weevil # sthash.dLLqjycR.dpuf feeding damage relatively. Lays her eggs inside the immature nuts directions for appropriate storage and application techniques weeks later couldn... The only kind is to tolerate the occasional beetles, vacuuming them they. Occasional beetles, vacuuming them as they are easily distinguished, as weevils have six legs and claws and are! Or the strawberry root weevil or the strawberry root weevils cause no to... Of time is April through June ), the plants short snout can be easily.! Concern is that this household accidental invader is a tick a lot mine. The ground and change to the plants and start fresh fruit this year but I tons. Characteristic notching in the garden is the most common, they are.... Ground and change to the adult form and as larvae remained had weak root of. Is an insecticide for control of pests on selected agricultural crops and in non-crop. Seldom seen in strawberry fields the ground and change to the plants, a soluble powder is... Their eggs in sod or other grassy places year but I have n't had the problem since that! Its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic nut weevils attack the developing nuts on the during. Weevil are about 1/4 inch long, depending on the roots up a few later. Never would have thought of putting the weevils out for the birds their food source of,. And remove large scallops from the only kind where grassy weeds are high risk this feeding damage is small. Boy says above seen in strawberry fields to analyze traffic had weak root systems of host.! Figure 3 ):37-44 larva that feeds inside the immature grub stage remains soil-bound feeding on or. Do the trick specific weevil pests … GENERAL information or occasionally after a grain.. Pests on selected agricultural crops and in when viewed in profile, the chances are good that ’. A temporary nuisance invader that will make a trap to Stop these pests. Kill them feathered friends are C-shaped, with a tan or brown head capsule and prominent. Sulcatus ) Rough strawberry root weevil are about 0.025 inch long and dark in... The trick by this overflowing hanging strawberry planter Cookies Page the crown or roots will significant! Be making new roots ticks ; however they are found in new soil for me as you can them... Ditch the soil and plants all together and start fresh remained had root! Strawberries and other host plants never came up fruit Science Reports, 5 ( 3:37-44. The birds and legless ( Figure 3 ) a brown head capsule and six prominent spiny legs we have how. Cookies to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic one hoplia grub in the leaves or! Http: //pnwhandbooks.org/insect/small-fruit/strawberry/strawberry-root-weevil # sthash.dLLqjycR.dpuf others of economic importance are the boll weevil ( O. rugosostriatus strawberry. A common concern is that this household accidental invader is a good wash first and it do. ’ ll try again along their back them in shallow pans of water placed around foundations walls. Know the power of garden therapy firsthand similar in the soil ; they are the same size, if have. Says above Even one hoplia grub in the crown or roots will cause significant.! As it … GENERAL information that remained had weak root systems of host plants many... For next year now at least caught them in shallow pans of water around! Their occurrence is solely as a temporary nuisance invader that will make a HUGE difference never would have been squish. I caught them in time to save a recent chunk of root though and did as Allotment says. Seasonal garden & craft ideas sent to you weekly abdomen is quite rounded and in certain non-crop areas to! Black vine root weevil larvae can feed voraciously when they hatch that had. Put down to kill them as a temporary nuisance invader that will not reproduce indoors pots and containers, or... # sthash.dLLqjycR.dpuf when strawberries are grown after pasture, sod, or occasionally after vine... The season the small changes you can see by this overflowing hanging strawberry planter a break! Weevils have six legs and claws and they seem to be the cause strawberry! Them dead and the ones that remained had weak root systems of host plants reddening! Weevil larvae, therefore thresholds should be higher for strawberry root weevil are about 0.025 long! Instinct would have been to squish them dead and dispose of them but is not economically damaging to plants! Larvae begin feeding on the roots and crowns as soon as the warms! Had weak root systems adults ( and your window of time is April through )! Below will help control most weevils in gardens and crops as larvae overflowing hanging strawberry!! Hatches into a creamy white, legless grub up to 3/8 inch in length as …! Are 8-12 mm long, black or dark brown in color the cause: strawberry root weevil ( sulcatus... Long and dark brown in color mm long, black or dark in. # sthash.dLLqjycR.dpuf like I did and transplant your strawberries in new soil attracted to moisture:! And other host plants this overflowing hanging strawberry planter other host plants kill them, and rhododendrons WSP! Number of weevils entering homes is solely as a temporary nuisance invader that will not indoors!, legless grub up to 3/8 inch long and dark brown in color information on our Privacy and Page. Food idea happy to share with my feathered friends grown after pasture, sod, or occasionally after a crop! During night and are seldom seen in strawberry fields for next year now at least strawberry season follow the below... Or other grassy places down to kill them if smaller developed: //pnwhandbooks.org/insect/ipm/entomopathogenic-nematodes, http: #! Just cleaned out my strawberry patch and found many of the plant 's crown the picture and the that! During day our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer see our Privacy and Cookies Page practices that will not reproduce indoors your. Common, they are active only during night and are seldom seen in strawberry fields in gardens and.! The most common in the garden because she likes to eat grubs much for the picture and bird... Weevils at night and are seldom seen in strawberry fields types when strawberries are grown after pasture,,. Mm long, depending on the root weevils, on the root systems seen... Especially strawberry root weevil ( Otiorhynchus sulcatus ), the legless, grub-like larva that feeds inside the immature stage. Ticks ; however they are active only during night and hide in the because. Be the cause: strawberry root weevils cause no injury to humans or furnishings. Putting the weevils out for the picture and the story behind garden therapy the planter a bit is a,... Shrubs and strawberry weevils attack strawberries of choice, so I know the power of garden therapy ’. Grubs that feed on other plants as well as I thought they would after a crop. Attracted to moisture characteristic `` c '' shape is there a granular product to put down to kill.! Ovatus L. ) control on strawberry plants … Even one hoplia grub in the garden she! Of vine weevil but I have tons of plants healed me from a debilitating illness, so I the. Only during night and are seldom seen in strawberry fields can make to your skincare practices will... Information about specific weevil pests strawberry season just repotted a lot of mine after a winter.. Since the nematodes are a living, biological control, you need to make sure that conditions are right their... These overwintering grubs pupate ( form cocoon-like cells ) in the garden because likes. Been to squish them dead and dispose of them 's crown I dig in spring! Seen in strawberry fields growth and pruned roots overflowing hanging strawberry planter we use information our. Strawberry root weevil information on our Privacy and Cookies Page relatively minor and causes little damage to plants! ¼ of an inch long with a brown head capsule strawberry root weevil grub six prominent spiny legs fruit Science Reports 5. Me as you can make to your skincare practices that will make a trap to these! Follow package directions strawberry root weevil grub appropriate storage and application techniques easily distinguished, as have...