Gardeners urged to act now to get rid of destructive pest living under soil

There’s nothing that will ruin your garden faster than an influx of ravenous pests – so beware of this one greedy creature that lurks in plant roots.

While there are many pests UK gardeners need to be wary of – like rodents, aphids and foxes – this one destructive bug poses a unique threat, as it likes to dwell in the roots of plants. Potted plants or plants in containers are particularly vulnerable to the threat of the vine weevil, though they can also attack plants growing in the ground.

Vine weevils are an extremely widespread and common pest and are distinguishable by their creamy white-brown colour. Though adult beetles are small, just 10 mm in length, they have been known to devastate crops.

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This is because they feed on plant roots, which provide a concentrated source of nutrients that the larvae need to grow and develop. This can severely damage a plant’s structure, even killing it.

Vine weevil larvae are most active from summer to spring. Although, it’s important to stay vigilant, as they can be found all year-round.

Key signs that your plants have fallen victim include oddly shaped notches on leaf margins. This is particularly true for evergreens such as rhododendrons and camellias.

Equally, you may notice your plants looking sick or wilted. If this is the case, gently tug them so you can examine the roots to see if they have been gnawed on.

Some popular plants that you should keep a particular eye out for include fuchsias, strawberries and heucheras, as vine weevils are especially drawn to them.

Though, even if you don’t grow these plants, it’s may still be worth placing several of them around the garden. This is because they can act as an effective ‘early warning’ system if examined regularly.

If you notice that your plants have been hit with an infestation of these greedy beetles, there are some steps you can take to get rid of them. Even better, they don’t require chemicals.

Gardener’s World advises: “Adult vine weevils can be caught by hand and squashed – either inspect plants at night by torchlight when the beetles are active or shake pot-grown plants over newspaper.”

However, if you’d rather not get your own hands dirty, you can also encourage their natural predators to settle in your garden, which include toads and birds.

If you're dealing with an infestation in late summer or autumn, you can also use a biological control such as nematodes. These are microorganisms that will kill vine weevils and which can be poured into the soil.