Strawberry Root Weevil
Ragged leaf edges are a telltale sign of root weevils, even when you don't catch the culprits in the act. By Robin Chotzinoff
Otiorhynchus ovatus
Strawberry root weevils destroy more than strawberries; mint, raspberries, and rhododendrons, among other plants, suffer their invasions throughout most of the United States and Canada. In late spring, and doing most of their work at night, the brownish-black 1/5-inch insects chew ragged edges in young leaves. Even though the leaf damage is mostly cosmetic, it's wise to take control of the situation before midsummer, when the adult weevils lay eggs in the soil around plants. The resulting larvae—white, legless, and C-shaped—feed on plant roots and crowns, stunting growth, depressing yield, and potentially killing the plants.
At the first sign of leaf damage, an after-dark stroll through the garden with flashlight in hand will help gauge the extent of the invasion.
© 2011 Rodale Inc.
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