Special note

What is a vine weevil and how do they live?:

Vine weevils are beetles. They have a long thin snout and are approximately 8-14 mm (¼ to ½ inch) in length. They are dull black with patches of tiny yellow bristles. They cannot fly but can walk 3 miles in a year.

All adults are female and lay hundreds of white eggs, approximately 0.8 mm in diameter and round. They rapidly turn brown as they mature.

The eggs are often confused with slow release fertiliser pellets, such as, Osmocote, which are found in most common compost mixes. The Osmocote pellets are 2 mm in diameter, release liquid fertiliser when squashed and range in colour from yellow to dark brown.

The eggs hatch in to larvae that are 'C' shaped and legless, with a small head. The larvae feed and grow throughout late summer and autumn. During winter their growth slows as temperatures decrease and feeding activity also decreases. As the temperature rises in spring, larvae activity starts to increase again causing more and more root damage.

Eventually the larvae stop feeding and pupate (during May) and quickly hatch into adults, and so the cycle continues.

Outdoors, the adults emerge in early summer (June) and lay their eggs immediately, starting the year long life cycle again.

Indoors, vine weevil will breed all year round resulting in the pest being present at all stages at any one time.




What damage do they do and how do I recognise it?:

The adults eat plants in summer and autumn, leaving distinctive crescent-shaped notches on leaves. Finding and destroying the adults is difficult as they are nocturnal, quick moving and play dead once disturbed.

The vine weevil grub (larvae) is far more of a danger to plants than the adults. The young larvae feed on plant root systems, initially on small fine outer roots, but progressively attacking the more important main roots as they grow bigger.


The first signs of attack by the larvae are usually when the plant starts to wilt. This is too late to save it! It is therefore more important to kill the larvae than the adults.

Primulas, fuchsias, begonias, most evergreen plants and all plants in pots are particularly at risk. They also attack strawberry and raspberry plants.



Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer:

Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer is the simple solution to control vine weevil.

Apply to pots and open ground from March to November. This is when the vine weevil larvae are present and the soil is above 5ºC (40ºF). If applying under cover the pest's lifecycle is broken and Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer can be applied at any time, as long as the soil is above 5ºC (40ºF). Apply directly to the soil around the roots, which is where the larvae will be feeding.

To keep a minor problem at bay, one autumn treatment should be adequate. However, for a serious infestation, treat in the spring and again in the autumn. When treating pots take care that the pots are not allowed to dry out.

The nematodes (Steinernema kraussei), seek out the vine weevil larvae and attack the pest by entering natural body openings. Once inside, they release bacteria that stops the larvae from feeding, quickly killing it. They do not stop there. The nematodes reproduce inside the dead pest and release a new generation of hungry infective nematodes, which disperse and search for further prey. Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer will kill larvae present in the area and protect against further larvae damage for up to four weeks.

Nemasys Vine Weevil Killer is available in pack sizes of 160 pot or 12 sq.m/14 sq.yds or 100 sq.m/125 sq.yds.