A new specific plant host for the agave snout weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus Gyllenhal, 1838 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) in South Africa: a destructive pest of species of Agave L. (Agavaceae). There is some evidence that species like Agave angustifolia – with its exceptionally hard outside skin – are less susceptible to snout nose weevil. Find more gardening information on Gardening Know How: Keep up to date with all that's happening in and around the garden. Once an agave has bloomed, it is at the end of its life cycle and these plants are especially prone to agave snout weevil infestations. Whenever I see an ailing Agave americana, the first thing I suspect is agave snout weevil. A population of agave snout weevils can decimate the agave crop and then what will we put in margaritas? The adult weevil is about ½ inch (12 mm) in length, is brownishblack and has a dull body (Fig. These are slow-moving pests that thankfully cannot fly. Not treating you take a risk of infestation, which may or may not happen this year or even next year. I’m trying to make a website with some general info. LIFE CYCLE: In the low desert adult agave weevils become active in the spring and can From Garden Bits, photos by Valerie, on the 4th site listed in Member Notes. 1 of 5 The damage to this century plant in the Hill Country could be from the agave snout weevil. Agaves in cultivation enjoy good drainage and regular water when the soil is going dry, but not much sooner. Agave snout weevils (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) can be a problem for landscapes in the low desert. The very large Agave americana or century plant is more susceptible to weevil damage than the smaller species. Plant Agave Cultivars Unattractive To Snout Weevils. This pest is a double edged sword, doing damage to agave and other plants in both its beetle and larval form. Photo: Courtesy photo 2 of 5 Agave snout weevil crawling out of a damaged agave… Use this forum to help with identification issues and treatment for a variety of common afflictions pertinent to our favorite horticultural charges. Website by Monica Hemingway, Agave experts, growers, and pest management specialists advise drenching the soil around healthy agaves with a systemic insecticide containing. These types of agaves (including A. sisal , which is grown for its fiber to make rope) contain very little succulent tissue, making them less attractive to weevils. Agaves and Yuccas are generally slow-growing specimen plants, and to lose one or more to these dratted pests can be heart-breaking, The reversible symptoms of water deprivation include inward-curled leaves and a slouching posture. They chew and suck the sap from your Blue Glow plant, causing it to dry. I’m sorry to hear it, Linda, but not surprised. 3. Agaves approaching maturity, or those with a wide, blue-green leaf seem to be the most susceptible to damage by the snout nosed weevil. Weevil-resistant agave varieties are also being selected and bred, but it may be years before a good supply is widely available. 19-24. I first suspected that agave snout-nosed weevil had arrived in my rural community north of San Diego when I noticed a collapsed Agave americana in a friend’s yard. Controlling Snout Nosed Weevils. Apply the granular form and dig it into the soil around the agave. The insects usually choose unhealthy or old agaves to deposit their eggs. There is some evidence that this plant is resistant to the Agave Snout Weevil, Scyphophorus acupunctatus. Snout weevil control is essential in southwestern areas, especially where agave is grown to make tequila. This is due to the bloom habit of the plant. Systemic insecticides with the active ingredient Imidacloprid have been effective in preventing and controlling the snout nosed weevils. 07.17.2009 by Kasey // As the agaves begin wilting out there, I am getting more and more questions about the proper treatment for prevention. The bigger the agave plant, the more attractive it is to the agave snout weevil. The weevil seems less inclined toward those with thin, flexible leaves, such as Agave attenuata; those with tough, hard-to-pierce leaves (such as agaves desmetiana, murpheyi, parryi, lophantha ‘Quadricolor’, ‘Sharkskin’, triangularis, victoriae-reginae and vilmoriniana); and those with slender, nonjuicy leaves such as agaves bracteosa, filifera and geminiflora. Be sure to wear gloves and protect your skin and eyes. Agaves Under Attack in Austin", http://tropicaltexana.blogspot.com/p/agave-weevil-eradication.html, Succulent Color Wheel Rainbow Centerpiece →, Tina Cremer, H2 Xero Landscape Design & Maintenance, https://debraleebaldwin.com/agave-photos-labeled-identified/, https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ILx-d4m5Fur2WtV3XqEUej6suGmUfirJ/view?usp=sharing, https://debraleebaldwin.com/succulent-experts/agave-snout-weevil-prevention-treatment/, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxY5213CP30&t=1s. Agave Snout Weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus). I could barely believe it. Smith G F, Figueiredo E, Klopper R R, Crouch N R, Janion C, Chown S L, 2012. 8*) [ Reply to this comment | ] Discussion Threads about this plant. Agave Snout Weevil. Bradleya. She lives atop a rocky hill surrounded by acres and acres of chaparral. One day it will look fine, the next day the plant is wilted and the stiff rapier sharp leaves are flat to the ground. Agave Borer Weevil, (also known as the Agave Snout Weevil) and the Yucca weevil are devastating insect pests to members of the Agave and Yucca genera. Although snout-nosed weevils can’t fly (yes, there are such things as flightless beetles), they sure can walk. long. Sign up for our newsletter. The adult weevil bites the heart of the agave and lays its eggs there. One of my absolute favorite Agaves, in case you couldn't tell. DAMAGE: Adults chew into the leaves of agave and introduce a bacterial rot … The foliage will pull easily out of the crown and the center of the rosette is mushy and foul smelling. (If using. There is some evidence that species like Agave angustifolia – with its exceptionally hard outside skin – are less susceptible to snout nose weevil. The indoor agave gardener may have to look a little harder for products that will work against the weevils. 4. It is hardy to ten degrees Fahrenheit. 1. The agave is a succulent plant also known as the Century plant. If snout weevil infestation is caught early enough, this treatment can also help stop it from spreading. ", Compare-N-Save Systemic Tree and Shrub Insect Drench, Agave Snout Weevil Prevention and Treatment, "Fibronil blamed for historical bee deaths", "Evil Weevils! Agaves are relatively problem-free, except for the aggravating agave snout weevil (sometimes referred to as sisal weevil). It blooms only once in its life and then dies, and it can take years for the plant to produce that one flower. Larvae are similar to white grubs without legs. As a general rule snout beetles seem less attracted to agaves like the Agave Attenuata species with: The larvae are the same ones you find in a tequila bottle and they busily chew until they have disconnected the interior tissue that connected the leaves to the crown. The snout-nosed agave weevil loves yuccas too. Three agave plants near my house that are currently infested with Weevils. Infested plants will show leaf wilt, followed by total collapse of the plant. Agaves. 16). Agave snout weevil treatment is widely available in Arizona, New Mexico and zones where the plants are grow outdoors. If you discover that one agave in your landscape has symptoms of agave snout weevil and the plant is beyond treatment, you should remove the plant as soon as possible to … A half-inch long black beetle can take down a giant century plant. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! According to information provided through the Internet by the University of Arizona, College of … Product labels don't say how much concentrate per gallon of water for agaves, so I go with the ratio for shrubs. I’m seeing stands of dead yuccas around San Antonio. But they are hard to see on your plants because they hide in the soil and between the leaves at … The first questions is whether or not to treat. Agaves naturally funnel rainwater water to their roots, so if you slosh the solution where lowest leaves meet the core, you'll effectively drench the soil below them at the base of the plant. Triazanon is available at most nursery and garden centers. If you have large agaves, especially Agave americana, in your garden you may want to follow some preventative measures to limit the chances of your plants falling victim to attack. Propagation is primarily through pups. Jennifer C. 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The agave snout weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) adult measures about 1/2-inch long, has a dull brownish-black body and a characteristic long snout. My Weber’s agave was looking so big and beautiful this past spring. It is a black insect with the scientific name Scyphophorus acupuntatus. This destructive and voracious insect seems to prefer the larger, broad-leafed species. Thread Title If your agave has already succumbed, replace it with a resistant variety so you don’t have to again go through the trauma of losing a favorite plant. As the tissues soften and decay, the parent and its progeny are merrily munching away on your plant. Agave snout weevil treatment with sprays is tricky because the insect is protected by the thick leaves. Agave Snout Weevil . Agave snout weevil treatment is widely available in Arizona, New Mexico and zones where the plants are grow outdoors. This cousin of the boll weevil loves this species of agave the most. Snout weevils prefer the wide-blade forms of agave such as Agave Americana in both the blue form and the variegated forms. My wife found this one … When the larvae hatch, they spread bacteria and do physical damage as they chew further into the core of the plant. To mix the solution, I use a hose, a 3-to-5 gallon bucket, and a stick for stirring. One cold-hardy variety that is less susceptible to damage is Parry’s agave ( Agave parryi, Zones 7–10); it has harder leaves that seem to deter the weevils. The agave snout weevil is also a serious pest where blue agave is grown commercially for tequila and in foreign countries where agaves have been introduced as landscape plants. Agave Snout Weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) by QCHammy Nov 23, 2008 10:34 PM. The weevil is a form of beetle and grows approximately an inch (2.5 cm.) In the video you can see one of the Weevil larvae. Read and follow the label directions. Diazinon granules were once used to control agave snout weevils, but it is no longer available to home gardeners. What is the agave snout weevil? Lost a yucca to Agave Snout Weevil. Another way to prevent or control agave weevil attacks is to plant agaves the weevils find “not attractive.” Horticulturists are working hard to develop specific snout weevil resistant cultivars. It seems to stay away from agaves with soft leaves, such as Agave attenuata ; those with tough, hard-to-pierce leaves (such as agaves ‘Sharkskin’ and v ictoriae-reginae ); and those with slender, nonjuicy leaves such as A. bracteosa and A. filifera . The night before, soak (hose-water) the soil at the base of each agave to aid penetration. The indoor agave gardener may have to look a little harder for products that will work against the weevils. Forum rules This section is dedicated toward maintaining one active thread for each plant pest and disease. Over the past six years, I have acquired a small, but growing, collection of. Succulent and southern gardeners will recognize the damage of the agave snout weevil. Vaurie P, 1971. Most Agaves are usually not hit by serious pests or diseases. By: Bonnie L. Grant, Certified Urban Agriculturist. I ended up completely dissecting it to find the weevil larvae. Apply the granular form and dig it into the soil around the agave. They do not have wings. The adult agave snout weevil chews on the lower parts of the agave plant, injecting the plant tissues with a bacteria as it chews, which causes them to rot. By the time this happens, snout weevil control is pointless for that plant, but if you have other succulents and agave, there are steps you can take to protect them. This particular species also shows some resistance to the agave snout weevil and is usually ignored by rodents. Sucessfully Treating the Agave Snout Weevil. It then lays its eggs in the rotting tissue and, when hatched, the agave snout weevil larvae feed on the rotting crown and roots. Many master gardeners in the Southwest agree that the larger agave species seem to be more at risk than the smaller species. Bird Puzzle Feeder: A New Way to Enjoy Your Garden, How to Deal with Mealy Bugs on Succulents, Brody’s Lovely, Low-Cost Succulent Garden, one of the "Top 100 Worst Global Invasive Species. Apply this snout weevil control once per month during the growing season. Agave Weevils in the Low Desert. This plant tolerates extreme heat and is drought-resistant, but prefers regular irrigation to grow faster. This makes it easier for the larvae and parent to eat the tissues, but it will eventually cause the collapse of even the most mighty of agave. According to agave experts, growers, and pest management specialists, the best approach is preemptive: drench the soil around healthy agaves with a systemic insecticide that has. Damage occurs quickly, followed by death because the bite of the weevil deposits bacteria that literally rot the agave. They are dry growing plants. I'm seeing more of the variegated forms in … While members of the agave plant family have few real problems growing in our arid climate, the agave snout weevil is the one challenge that can give it fits. Tom Gatz March 2001. Landscape agaves can survive months of drought once they are established, though they prefer occasional water. Potted agaves are more difficult for weevils (which don’t fly) to access. Snout weevil damage is extensive and soon leads to death of the plant. These types of agaves (including A. sisal , which is grown for its fiber to make rope) contain very little succulent tissue, making them less attractive to weevils. The bite of the beetle injects bacteria which cause the plant tissues to soften and liquefy. For special varieties, plant agaves in containers and also look for other succulents such as larger stapelias, euphorbia species and aeoniums. DESCRIPTION: Adults are dusty black weevils about one inch long, with a long snout. The adult weevil attacks many species of agave. Yucca was declining for awhile. This pesky, stealthy insect loves specimen agaves like the Weber’s agave, along with the century plant, or Agave americana. When you water, the chemical will slowly release down to the roots of the plant and then into the vascular tissue, protecting it from the pest. With rare or special specimens, chemical prevention using a broad-spectrum insecticide applied to the soil at the base of the agave plants in spring would also be effective in controlling agave snout weevil populations. However, if your agave is about to bloom, it’s best to forgo treatment as it could affect pollinators that are attracted to the blossoms. Snout weevils are beetles about ½ inch (12 mm) in length, brownish-black and have a … They have killed 2 medium sized agaves in my yard this year. Triazanon is available at most nursery and garden centers. 2. A similar species also colonizes yuccas. The agave snout weevil is a nasty, little black beetle just 1/2 inch long that can take out a mature agave the size of a VW bus. About Agave Snout Weevils. The snout weevil seems to prefer Agave americana (especially older ones and variegates), but will go after other Agave species. Soon after I joined the Central Arizona Cactus and Succulent Society, I was warned about the deadly and irreversible effects of attacks by agave snout weevils (Scphophorus acupunctatus). Being an Agave, you’ll highly likely have to deal with Agave snout weevils, also known as sisal weevils, which lay eggs on the base of the plant during spring, causing the infestation to escalate. 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