The Black Vine Weevil now is a nuisance for almost any garden owner. It causes a unpleasant-looking feeding damage on the leaves of many plants. Its larvae are feeding on the roots and lead to wilt or even to the death of the plants. For control of the Black vine weevil about 1 mm long nematodes of the genus Heterorhabditis have proved to be the best beneficials.

Mode of action
The nematodes actively look for the host larvae in the ground, penetrate them through their orifices and kill the larvae within 2-3 days. Later, the nematodes multiply in the host cadaver that decomposes thereby. The adult weevils are not killed by this species of nematodes. For direkt control of adult weevil you can use the newly developed trap (called Nematop Käferstopp), which contains Steinernema-nematodes.
If you have concerns about your children or pets to stay in the garden, this is completely unfounded, because the nematodes are not visible on the one hand and the other totally harmless.

Combat period
For successful control of the larvae with nematodes, the soil temperature should be at least 12 °C, under this temperatures the nematodes are inactive. Periods for the use of nematodes outdoors are April to early June and late August to October. However, his periodes can differ, depending on the weather. The nematodes can survive without a host for several months and even survive frosts. But the stock is considerably reduced, so that in the next season a new application is necessary.
At cooler soil temperatures of 5 to 12 °C we recommend using 'Cool'-Nematoden, which also control the larvae of Black Vine Weevil.

Application
The nematodes are supplied in a granulate of clay which is mixed with water and watered onto the soil. The treated area should be kept moist in the next 6-8 weeks, so that a long-term impact is ensured.