Vine weevil

Symptoms

Summer damage caused by the adults on leaf margins resemble irregular notches. More serious damage is caused by the soil-dwelling larvae. Plants wilt and die during autumn to spring as a result of grubs devouring the roots. They also kill woody plants by gnawing away the outer tissues of the larger roots and stem bases.

Spot them

The adults 9mm long, are dull black beetles with a pear-shaped body. Adult weevils are best seen on foliage at night, as during the day they hide in dark places. They are slow moving insects that cannot fly but they are very persistent crawlers and climbers. Soil-dwelling larvae are plump, white, legless grubs up to 10mm long with pale brown heads.