Vine Weevil on Trillium erectum

[Greenmanplants]

I was surprised not to find a VW chain already on the go...at least I'm assuming this is what is causing my damage.
I bought some T.erectum album last year, in a big 14" pot...only to find they are being eaten, I assume by the dreaded vine weevil.  I haven't found any, despite doing the middle of the night search just now...yes mad nuts and mad angry.


Anyway, what is left on the market that is suitable for these little pests. I am intending turning out the pot and splitting the clump as soon as I have collected seed...but I may have to rethink that now. 

[Diane Clement]

Anyway, what is left on the market that is suitable for these little pests. I am intending turning out the pot and splitting the clump as soon as I have collected seed...but I may have to rethink that now. 

Hi John
I also put a reply on the AGS site last night.
I suppose birds (pigeons in my garden), slugs or vine weevils are the most likely culprits.  I'm not sure if vine weevils eat flowers like this?  Here they tend to eat leaves of shrubby subjects such as rhododendrons. 

If you wish to spray these or other plants against vine weevils, Provado is pretty effective, easy to use in the spray gun version.  If you think there is a problem with the weevils as well as the adults, you would need to use the soil drench version of Provado.  I'm not sure there's a connection with adult and weevils attack so signs of adult nibbling doesn't necessarily lead to a long term problem with plants.     

[Greenmanplants]

Thanks Diane.

[Gerdk]

John,
Is there a chance that slugs were responsible for the damage?
The flowers look like those of some of my daffodils which were eaten by some
kind of slugs.
These little beasties are very active now!

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

John, I don't think that damage is typical of vine weevil. The areas where there is "rasping" of the surface suggests slugs   

[Lvandelft]

John, I don't think that damage is typical of vine weevil. The areas where there is "rasping" of the surface suggests slugs   

I agree with that.

[Rodger Whitlock]

The damage does not look like it was caused by vine weevils.

In my experience, weevil damage is a notching of the margins of leaves and looks nothing like what your photo shows. Whatever is munching on your trillium has a bigger appetite than a weevil.

If I found this damage in my own garden, I would suspect either slugs or climbing cutworms (larvae of a moth). Earwigs are another possibility, but I've never been certain just what damage by them looks like.

[Greenmanplants]

Thanks everyone, I'd rather have slugs than the dreaded VW.

[Paul T]

What, you don't like Volkswagons? (they're known here as VWs.  )

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. 

[Greenmanplants]

Quite Intended Paul.  Voltswagons here are also known as VWs or Beetles and as Weevils are Coleopetra(Beetles), I'd rather deal with the molluscs.

[Paul T]

Ouch!    Sounds like you aren't that particular breed of car fan. 

 

[Greenmanplants]

Don't get me wrong...they're great and anyone I've ever known who had one loved it....they do have character!!  Love the Combi van, go anywhere do everything!!