Weevils on Sweet Chestnut
How to identify and get rid of weevils on Sweet Chestnut. Size: 5–10mm.
Identifying weevils on Sweet Chestnut
Beetles with a distinctive elongated snout; adults are dark and hard-shelled, while larvae are creamy white, legless grubs found in soil or plant tissue.
Life cycle
Most have one generation per year; larvae overwinter in soil and feed on roots through winter and spring before pupating.
Damage to Sweet Chestnut
Adults notch leaf edges at night, while soil-dwelling larvae feed on roots, which can be more damaging and cause sudden wilting or plant collapse, especially in container plants.
How to treat weevils on Sweet Chestnut
Apply beneficial nematodes to soil to target larvae. Use sticky barrier bands or torchlight checks at night to catch adults.
Preventing weevils on Sweet Chestnut
Inspect pot-grown plants and compost for grubs before use, and encourage birds and ground beetles as natural predators.