ControllingSnout Nosed Weevils. Agavesnoutweevil treatment is widely available in Arizona, New Mexico, and zones where the plants are grown outdoors. The indoor agave gardener may have to look a little harder for products that will work against the weevils. Snoutweevil WILL find them; it's just a matter of time. To prevent the pest from destroying your agaves, apply alternatives to the neonicotinoid imidacloprid every two months (see below). Or have a pest control expert who's licensed in CA apply imidacloprid for you, twice annually. ControllingSnout Nosed Weevils#. Agavesnoutweevil treatment is widely available in Arizona, New Mexico, and zones where the plants are grown outdoors. The indoor agave gardener may have to look a little harder for products that will work against the weevils. These hardy, drought-tolerant plants are a staple in desert design—but they have a hidden enemy: the AgaveSnoutWeevil. This invasive pest has been making its way through the Las Vegas Valley, and it’s doing real damage. At Anderson Pest Control, we’ve seen firsthand how quickly a... The AgaveSnoutWeevils are at it again! The females have spent the past spring chewing into the Agaves and Yuccas and laying their eggs.Systemic insecticides with the active ingredient Imidacloprid have been effective in preventing and controlling the snout nosed weevils. Agavesnoutweevil is a half-inch-long black beetle with a downward-curving proboscis that enables it to pierce an agave’s core, where it lays its eggs. Grubs hatch, consume the agave’s heart, then burrow into the soil to pupate. AgaveSnoutWeevil are especially damaging to large agave species, learn your control options for these feasting devastating beetles.How The AgaveSnout-Nosed Weevil Works. The agaveweevil bites the plant and injects bacteria, which causes the plant tissues to liquefy and soften. Agaveweevil infestation: By Zann Wilson. The weevil usually follows a pattern of opportunity; drilling into Agave americana before and during its dramatic flowering and eventual death. To controlagaveweevils, natural predators such as woodpeckers, wrens, nuthatches, bluebirds, and parasitic wasps can be introduced to your garden. To prevent snoutweevils from infecting your agave plants, ensure good soil drainage and avoid overwatering. How AgaveWeevils Cause Damage. An agaveweevil has a sharp snout that punctures a plant and transmits bacteria that eat away at the plant’s core. It then lays its eggs, and the larvae feed on the softened core. Agavesnoutweevils are tiny beetles with a big appetite and an even bigger impact on your beloved agave. Imagine this: your agave plant, once a proud and spiky centerpiece, starts to look a bit... off. The leaves droop sadly, and there's a suspicious mushiness at the base. For the biological control of the Agavesnoutweevil, some natural enemies of larvae, Placodes ebeninus, Lioderma cacti and Phileurus valgus have been reported, as well as the ants. · To control minor infestations of agave snout weevils, remove and discard affected plants. For rare specimens, applying a broad-spectrum insecticide to the soil at the base of agave plants in spring can effectively manage weevil populations. · Agave Weevils are a common pest that can cause significant damage to Agave plants. Whether you are an avid gardener or a commercial farmer, this guide on How to Get Rid of Agave Weevils will provide the information you need to protect your Agave plants from these pesky insects. If you would prefer not to use insecticides on live plants, the best control is to dig and remove the grubs by hand. Or call a landscape professional to thoroughly remove the pests, check other agaves for signs of the weevil and treat them if necessary to prevent the grubs taking up a new home. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll walk you through every aspect of these sneaky creatures, from understanding their behavior and life cycle to providing you with an array of strategies to protect your cherished agave plants. AgaveSnoutWeevil.Agave americana (all varieties), A. murpheyi, A. parryi, and A. weberi seem to be very common targets. Systemic insecticides with the active ingredient Imidacloprid have been effective in preventing and controlling infestations. Compounding the problem, bacteria enters the plant through the holes left by the weevil and the plant begins to decay, resulting in the foul smell. Once the visible signs of an agavesnoutweevil infestation are present, it’s often too late to save the plant.
