THE BUG LADY
Weevil & White Grubs
Pictured above: Typical Weevil damage on Rhodo plants
We offer different types of Weevil Control, such as the Weevilution and Cold Shots as listed in the beneficial nematodes page. However, we do have more options for tackling weevils. The life cycle of the black vine weevil is that eggs are laid in the summer, and hatch out into larvae starting in mid-August. Early to mid-September is the best time to attack them as the larvae are still small and easier to kill with nematodes, and, if you apply nematodes within that window, the soil temperatures will be ideal for the nematodes to be active.
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For weevils, you have 2 choices and application windows:
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Steinernema kraussei (S.k, Cold Shots) are applied early in the year, and can be purchased in retail packs as listed in our nematode page as well as bulk sizes for larger operations. The application window is typically in April, when soil temperatures exceed 5C.
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The second species is Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (H.b, Weevilution), which can be applied in early May when soil temperatures exceed 10-12C.
New weevils begin to hatch mid August, so we recommend applications of Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Weevilution) from early September to about the third week of September to get a handle on the second wave of larvae. This application can be follow up with S.k in October once soil temperatures fall below 10-12C.
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Stratiolaelaps (Hypoaspis) should be used only once, on new areas as an inoculation as they will stay in the soil for the life of the crop. They are primarily purchased as fungus gnat egg and larvae predators; however, this generalist mite will also go after diapausing pest mites when they leave the crop, and help with Weevils by going after immature stages of Weevil's that live in the soil.
Weevil control:
Hype-O (Stratiolaelaps scimitus / Hypoaspis miles):
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3,000 Mites (22742): $19.00 suited for areas up to 200 square feet
1L tube (25,000 mites) (22740): $45.00 for areas 1,000-2,000 square feet Buy 3 or more: $35.00/1L
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Weevilution:
This popular weevil-controlling nematode has a particular application time, as it's only effective when applied when daytime soil temperatures reach 12 C. Those application windows are April through mid-May, and then again September through mid-October.
6 million: $42.00 suited for areas ~130 sq. feet
White Grub and Chafer Control:
Nemagard (Steinernema scarabaei)
Protect your lawn from the destruction caused by European Chafer Beetle and other types of grubs. "Nemagard attacks any stage of a grub's life cycle, including their hard-to-control third instar larvae stage. The best time to apply is end of July - September, while soil temperatures are between 12 - 25 degrees.
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15 million: $79.50 suited for areas ~700 sq. feet
225 million: $196.00 suited for areas ~8,000 sq. feet
