Vine weevil (Otiorhynchus sulcatus)

I had these weevils in my garden a few years back and they destroyed most of my Fuchsias one year. The little white grubs with the brown heads ate all the roots and then the plants died. In springtime the grubs changed into adults. They are about 9mm long, dull black, beetle like with 6 legs. They do not move fast and tend to keep hidden during the day. The adults would feast on the Fuchsia leaves leaving irregular notches.

Armillatox was available to kill the eggs, but due to high costs in getting approval in the EEC for use as a pesticide (around £3 000 000). Well you would mix in a ratio of 500 to 1 solution with water and spray over the compost every fortnight during period March to October and then from November to March every month. You can get Armillatox to use in the garden for other purposes in the UK for about £8.45.

To kill the Vine Weevil in my garden I discovered Bio Provado Vine Weevil Killer which you mix with water and water into your containers. It is systemic, meaning that the plant absorbs it and the pests die once they begin to eat the plant or roots. Since PBI is now part of the Bayer group the product is renamed Bayer Provado Vine Weevil Killer. The active ingredient is Thiacloprid which also helps control Whitefly, Blackfly and Greenfly. Three applications a year are all that is needed. Cost is around a tenner for 750ml.

Levington compost can be obtained that contains the pesticide imidacloprid and other 12 months protection.

There are also natural enemies of the vine weevil like the centipede, which should not be confused with the millipede which is a pest. Yet another is something called nematodes. These are tiny creatures that enter the larvae through bodily openings and kill the larvae. You can buy the nematodes commercially like; JUST GREEN VINE WEEVIL KILLER SMALL PROGRAMME or Nemasys® VW biological vine weevil control . Steinernema kraussei is used for temperatures above 5C/68F while Heterorhabditis megidis works better above 12C/54F.

Like most insect pests, encouraging birds, frogs, toads, shrews, hedgehogs and predatory ground beetles will reduce vine weevil attacks.

Agralan Insect Barrier Glue around pots and greenhouse staging can trap the adults.

Hope this helps eradicate your vine weevil damage.

Can you help find Madeleine McCann

CAN YOU HELP???



Madeleine McCann was abducted from her parents rented holiday apartment in Praia da Luz on the evening of May 3rd 2007.Her family need your help to find her – any information at all, no matter how insignificant you feel it to be, could be crucial to bringing Madeleine home.

From outside of the UK please contact Crimestoppers on 00 44 18 83 73 1336
If you’re phoning from within the UK contact 0800 555 111
Visit The Madeleine Fund Website

Notice the distictive flash in her right eye!!!

Water Butts

The weather this year is supposed to be a scorcher which is great if your a sun worshiper. However what about the gardens this year? If the water becomes short then hosepipe bans are likely.
Last year most companies sold out of Water Butts, are you going to be one of the unlucky people that does not get one this year??

I have added some that are available at the moment on the gardening database website from different suppliers.

Hydrogen the greener gas

I read an article at msn called Top 10 green motoring myths. It says,

In the meantime the biggest headache for scientists is how to extract and store hydrogen so it can be made available as a fuel, without the need to first use large amounts of fossil-fuelled electricity.

To me the answer is wind power.

Using wind turbines, electricity could be produced that would be used in obtaining hydrogen from water by means of electrolysis. (The oxygen produced could also be stored too). Since the wind is free the costs are manpower, capital investment in the plant and water to replenish that used in the process.

Why won't it work, what have I missed???

Shh A price drop coming Friday 4th May 2007 12-3pm

Visit here on Friday 4th May 2007 12-3pm for Prices Dropping at Comet (UK)

Price Crashing on:-
Panasonic 32" HD Ready Digital LCD TV
JVC 20" Digital LCD TV
Philips 26" HD Ready Digital LCD TV
Proline 15" LCD TV
Proline iPod Speaker Dock
Sagem Freeview Box
Proline Air conditioner
HUSKY HUS-HM71 - Chiller
BOSCH KGV28V00GB - Fridge Freezer
PROLINE TFP135B - Fridge Freezer
PRESTIGE PR60HOBG gas hob
PRESTIGE PR60FSDOE electric cooker
Zanussi ZWF1221 1200 spin washer
Indesit WIL163S - 1600 spin washing machine
SONY NAV U-50 GPS Navigation
SONY NAV U-50T GPS Navigation
SAMSUNG YP-K3JQB 2GB MP3 Player
NETGEAR WIRELESS NETWORKING KIT
IOMEGA 500GB EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE
NORTON INTERNET SECURITY 2007