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Controlling Black Vine Weevil with
Heterorhabditis marelatus …part 2
A year ago this last August I applied our West Coast native nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus to my garden to see how effective it was in controlling Black Vine Weevil. Also, as it is a native to our coast, I was anxious to see how ‘perennial’ it was in our area. Here is what I found.
Large areas of my garden were free of the notching on the leaves by the adult Black Vine Weevil. However I did find a few pockets where either the nematodes didn’t work or I hadn’t applied them carefully. This fall I chose to reapply the nematodes being especially careful to do a good job on the areas where the weevils survived last year. The research on the Internet said the nematodes needed to be well watered in to reach the root area where the weevil larva are living. Some research even said to pull back any mulch. However looking for an easier way I saw other research that said not to flush out the nematodes with too much water when using them in potted plants so I hoped plenty of water would get them into the root zone. As to how perennial these nematodes are in my garden I will have to wait another two years to see how much effect still remains as this fall’s application will be effective this coming spring. It will be the following year that says how permanent they will be in the garden. Hopefully the Black Vine Weevil will only be an occasional pest.
Controlling Black Vine Weevil with Heterorhabditis marelatus...part 3
A year ago this August, I applied our West
Coast native nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus to my garden to see how
"perennial" it was in our area. Here is what I found.
Large areas of my garden were free of
the notching of the leaves by the adult Black Vine Weevil. However, I did find a
few pockets where either the nematodes didn't work or I hadn't applied them
carefully. This fall I chose to reapply the nematodes being especially careful
to do a good job on the areas where weevils survived last year. The research on
the Internet said the nematodes needed to be watered in to reach the root area
where the weevil larva are living. Some research even said to pull back any
mulch. However, looking for an easier way I saw other research that said not to
blush out the nematodes with too much water when using them in potted plants so
I hoped plenty of water would get them into the root zone. As to how perennial
these nematodes are in my garden I will have to wait another two years to see
how much effect still remains as the fall's application will be effective this
coming spring. It will be the following year that says how permanent they will
be in the garden. Hopefully the Black Vine Weevil will only be an occasional
pest.
Louis Mensing February 2005