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Identifying vine weevil on Hydrangea
Adults notch the edges of leaves at night, while below ground, white C-shaped grubs feed on roots, potentially weakening container-grown plants especially.
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Life cycle
Adults emerge spring/summer. Larvae overwinter in soil eating roots. One generation per year.
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Damage to Hydrangea
Adult notching is mostly cosmetic, but root-feeding larvae can seriously damage hydrangea's root system, particularly in containers, sometimes causing sudden collapse.
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How to treat vine weevil on Hydrangea
Apply nematodes (Steinernema kraussei) to moist soil around the root zone in spring or autumn, and use sticky traps to monitor adult weevils.
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Preventing vine weevil on Hydrangea
Check the root ball for grubs when repotting container-grown hydrangeas, and apply preventive nematode treatments in high-risk areas.