Author Topic: What are these things in my container?  (Read 1170 times)

NewGen

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What are these things in my container?
« on: November 27, 2021, 05:01:16 PM »
Hi,

An LSU fig hasn't looked healthy for a while, so I decided to check out the root ball.
Found these in the soil. Are they harmful to the tree? How did they get in? The branches also have lots of scales and ants are all over the place.
Thanks,




Orkine

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2021, 05:12:00 PM »
Grubs.  A beetle laid an egg and that was the start of the story.


Galatians522

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2021, 05:15:28 PM »
Looks like root weevils. The adult is a beetle. It lays its eggs in the soil, they hatch into grubs and eat roots until they mature into adult beetles.
« Last Edit: November 27, 2021, 11:54:07 PM by Galatians522 »

Orkine

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #3 on: November 27, 2021, 05:29:49 PM »
By the way, your pot soil looks very wet.  You may want to let it dry up a little more.
You can control the grubs with several contact insecticide products if you want, easier since they are in a pot.

NewGen

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #4 on: November 27, 2021, 05:56:09 PM »
Thanks guys for the info.
Yes, the soil is soaking wet, will let things dry out.
So are these weevils harmful to the roots? If so, how do I prevent beetles from laying eggs in my potted trees?

Galatians522

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #5 on: November 27, 2021, 11:53:25 PM »
The grub stage eats roots. Its easier to kill them when they are above ground.

Plantinyum

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2021, 01:51:00 PM »
I always get theese over summer, since i add lots of manure to my plants in the garden. They eat mostly rotting matter but i think they nibble on vegetable roots also. Not sure about tree roots...

NewGen

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2021, 02:05:53 PM »
So the consensus is to prevent/kill the beetles from ever getting on the soil surface to lay their eggs, right? Because it's impossible to kill these grubs when they're already hibernating around the root balls. Is there some formulation of powder that you use to sprinkle around the tree?
Thanks,

Orkine

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2021, 03:03:47 PM »
I believe there are several products on the market for killing grubs.
Most are contact and the grub does not have to be active to be controlled. This might be the better way to control the beetle by disrupting its reproductive cycle.

I suspect though that they didn't lay eggs only in your one pot and that there are grubs in other places to that will replenish your beetle population.

-------------------------

Take a look at this link.
I am not sure if the treatment described here works for you but the nematode option with fig is pure irony.


https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/root-weevils-5-551/
« Last Edit: November 28, 2021, 06:35:25 PM by Orkine »

OCchris1

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #9 on: November 29, 2021, 02:30:39 AM »
Those are June bug larvae and they feed on the roots. You can buy a mix to sprinkle on them. I have had them destroy a small mango and nearly killed a good sized rollinia.
-Chris

NewGen

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Re: What are these things in my container?
« Reply #10 on: November 29, 2021, 10:34:10 AM »