The vine weevil (or *Dickmaulrüssler*, as we call it in Germany) absolutely loves plants with lush green foliage, and unfortunately, your cherry laurel is right at the top of its menu. But here’s the kicker: it’s not just about the unsightly holes in the leaves. The real trouble starts underground where the larvae attack the roots, which can lead to some pretty serious damage. Here is the lowdown on how to spot these pests and get them out of your garden.
Meet the Culprit
There are a few different types of vine weevils out there, but the ones we usually run into are the Large Brown Weevil and the Black Vine Weevil. Both are brownish beetles that love to snack on cherry laurel leaves. You’ll know they’ve moved in if you see “notching”—those distinct, semi-circular bite marks along the edges of the leaves. Unlike other pests that poke random holes in the middle of a leaf, these guys are edge-feeders.
However, the adults are actually the lesser of two evils. The real “garden villains” are the larvae. The adult weevils lay their eggs in the soil, and once they hatch, the larvae start munching on the fine root hairs of your laurel. They eventually work their way up to the main root. Once that main root is compromised, the plant can’t take up nutrients or water anymore, and it will eventually wither away. You definitely want to step in before it gets to that point!
How to Spot and Stop Vine Weevils
Vine weevils are night owls. You won’t see them hanging out on your plants during the day; you’ll only see the “souvenirs” they left behind on the leaves. If you want to catch them in the act, grab a flashlight or use your phone light and head out to the garden after dark. That’s your best bet for seeing the beetles themselves.
Methods for getting rid of them:
- Set up wood wool traps to collect the beetles.
- Use nematodes to wipe out the larvae.
To catch the adults, place small containers filled with wood wool (excelsior) under your cherry laurels. When the sun comes up, the beetles look for a dark place to hide and will crawl right into your traps, making it easy for you to collect and dispose of them. This helps thin out the population, but if you want to get serious, you have to go after the larvae. The most effective way to do this is by buying nematodes from your local garden center or online. These are tiny, beneficial organisms that act as natural predators to the weevil larvae. They’ll hunt down the larvae in the soil but won’t harm your plants or the rest of your garden at all.
