Agave Snout Weevil

[Socalagave]

The root drench as opposed to the top dump works well and is our method here in SE NC. I have a two gallon hand pump sprayer. I mix per package instructions and with the spray nozzle off squirt the "Tree and Shrub Systemic" around the base. Have found that I must keep the base clear of old dead leaves and believe it serves two purposes. No place to hide for the adult weevils and the systemic gets where it's needed. Only saw a couple dead in the bud base this spring and none all summer. Carefully examining the bud/leaf bases is the way to know you have a problem. A valuable plant can be saved even if initially bored for egg laying by the adults. The previous is for agave. Trunking yuccas are another problem. Same preventative treatment but tough to see the initial borings of adults. Commonly aloifolia in the wild can be weeviled and fall over as the larvae weaken the trunk. The tops then root to start all over.

Which chemical are you spaying?

[abborean]

Bioadvanced 12 month Tree protect and feed. It's 1.47% imidacloprid. It used to be a Bayer product. Available in Lowes, Home Depot etc.

[bigdaddyscondition]

I just took a stroll through my backyard right after the first rainstorm of the season here in the Inland Empire of southern California. This little demon crossed my path, ambling toward a colony of Agave angustifolia marginata. Good thing I just had my fall imidacloprid treatment done October 3.

Scyphophorus acupunctatus

Scyphophorus acupunctatus.jpg (90.31 KiB) Viewed 1194 times

[Socalagave]

I thought I had ducked a weevil problem. Inexperienced likely cause me to miss a problem.

I was looking after an Agave parrasana 'Sea Star' that was struggling. When I dug it out this is what I found:

[Socalagave]

I will be driving through AZ later this month. Is imidacioprid readily available in AZ? I would like to buy a supply. Thanks in advance for any information.

[Melt in the Sun]

It is available, but only in weak concentrations and expensive cocktails that I have found.

[bigdaddyscondition]

The solution of imidacloprid we've discussed using on this forum for agave snout weevil is the 1.47% solution. Bonide is one commercially available brand, or at least it was available in California before it was banned for consumer purchase and use.

[Socalagave]

The solution of imidacloprid we've discussed using on this forum for agave snout weevil is the 1.47% solution. Bonide is one commercially available brand, or at least it was available in California before it was banned for consumer purchase and use.

I have about 100 small to medium sized plants. At 1 oz per gallon I’m guessing I need about 30 oz per application. That means 120 oz per 4 annual applications. Is that correct? When driving through AZ where should I look for the product? In what sizes it it sold?

[bigdaddyscondition]

The solution of imidacloprid we've discussed using on this forum for agave snout weevil is the 1.47% solution. Bonide is one commercially available brand, or at least it was available in California before it was banned for consumer purchase and use.

I have about 100 small to medium sized plants. At 1 oz per gallon I’m guessing I need about 30 oz per application. That means 120 oz per 4 annual applications. Is that correct? When driving through AZ where should I look for the product? In what sizes it it sold?

There are several threads on this forum discussing imidacloprid treatment of the agave snout weevil. Here's one with the basics, including the formula GeeS recommends, along with his advice for what volume of imidacloprid dilute solution to use viewtopic.php?t=6198 . See especially comment #5 by GeeS. Gee recommends applying the diluted imidacloprid solution (1 fl. oz. of the 1.47% product per gallon of water) as you would if you were watering the plant. That method has always worked for me.

Here's another thread https://agaveville.org/viewtopic.php?p= ... vil#p68505 discussing how to dilute and apply the 21% solution of imidacloprid, which I believe is a product geared towards professional pest control companies and may be less available to us amateur gardeners.

The Bonide brand of 1.47% preparation of imidacloprid comes in a one gallon jug labeled "Tree and Shrub Insect Control" and is available at Walmart and other big box stores. At least in states where its sale and use by the public is not prohibited.

[Gee.S]

This is the ideal from Amazon, but you'll need a non-CA address. Best you'll find at a brick and mortar in AZ will probably be 1 gal/1.47% for $90 or some such. If you're lucky.

merit.jpg (117.13 KiB) Viewed 1091 times

[Socalagave]

Thanks.

[Socalagave]

Has anyone used the granular form of imidacloprid? I have several plants on slopes and it’s difficult to to get the liquid to soak into the soil without significant runoff. I see the benefit of the plant drenching, which I’ve done. I think for the second application I may use the granules as the systemic in the root zone.

Comments?

[Melt in the Sun]

Pulled apart a rotting mangave 'Mission to Mars' to find some late summer / early fall weevils. Out came the spray and soak buckets! I found a couple adults on plants nearby, so hopefully I am not too late.

Anyone know of a reference for the life cycle of these bugs? I see grubs and painfully slow adults, and wonder how they manage to find plants especially when there are very few other agave around my house...

Out of curiosity, I kept pulling the core apart until I got it clean. I've wondered in years past if this could re-root and continue growing, which means you could keep growing a rare plant if weevils got it. We'll find out!

A followup on the above - this has worked. So, if you are able to peel a plant apart enough to get a clean core (without it falling apart), it's definitely possible to save it! I did nothing special to this one - just stuck it in the dirt and waited. It has certainly set the plant back several years and it's still ugly, and this is a common plant where saving it didn't really matter to me, but for a rare one in the future it's nice to know.

[bigdaddyscondition]

Thanks melt, good to know. I can report here that the agave snout weevil also attacks the Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia).