Consider night attacks on controlling root weevils

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By Marianne C. Ophardt, Special to the Tri-City Herald

KENNEWICK -- I was talking with a Master Gardener the other day about the root weevil problem in his little blueberry patch. Root weevils are a group of specialized brown or black snout-nosed beetles that attack a variety of ornamental plants.

Root weevil damage is characterized by notching of plant leaf edges. (They don't eat holes in leaves.)

Generally, this notching is a cosmetic concern and seldom does significant injury to a plant, but when their numbers are extremely large they can damage plants.

The weevil's white C-shaped, legless larvae develop in the soil, feeding on the plant roots, root hairs, and the root crown at the base of the stems. The larvae can cause serious damage in potted nursery plants and in very sandy soil.

Most gardeners only note the notching damage and seldom see the actual weevil adults. That's because during the day the adult weevils hide out in the soil and debris at the base of plants. After dark they come out and climb up the plants to feed on the leaves.

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