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Theagave snout weevil[Scyphophorus acupunctatus ] , also known as the Sisal weevil , is abundant in the southwestern United States and also throughout Mexico .
They feast on manyspecies of agave plantsand other plant in that syndicate .
Photo Credit: Instagram @bowih88
The adult snout weevil is a large shameful beetle with a prospicient and pointy snout .
These beetles are especially damaging to large agave mintage , such as the hundred plant life . This industrial plant and its cultivar are very popular in landscape gardening in the southwesterly United States and other hot , dry areas .
The beetle are a genuine threat to the blue century plant , which is used to make tequila .
Photo Credit: Instagram @bowih88
The “ worm ” often found in the bottom of a tequila feeding bottle is actually an agave weevil larva .
In this clause , we name the snout weevil , its larva , and the damage wrought by both . Read on to learn more .
What Damage Does The Agave Snout Weevil Cause?
Agave weevil beetles bring mayhem with Agave 100 plant life and many native agaves throughout the states .
The snout weevil also make tremendous damage and fiscal ruination to growers of juicy agave in Mexico .
grown beetles seek out plants mainly in a hurt state . They specially target late bloomedagave works .
These plants Agave americana ( aka : Century Plants ) heyday once in their lifespan and then go into decline and die .
If the damage triggered by the agave beetle was isolated to item-by-item flora , their existence would not be problematic .
Unfortunately , when the agave snout weevil infestation approach a declining agave plant , the effect of its onset spread to the works branch ( pups ) and all of the agaves in the contiguous vicinity .
How The Agave Snout-Nosed Weevil Works
The agave weevil bites the plant life and inject bacterium , which causes the works tissues to liquefy and soften .
The beetle then lays eggs in the anatomy of the plant life . When the eggs hatch , they easily feed on the soft , liquefied plant tissues .
The combined onset of the agave weevil larvae and injected bacteria cause the plant to collapse .
agave affected by this bacteria decrease apart . The center of the works ( from which tequila is made ) becomes maudlin and takes on a foul odor .
The bacterium diffuse to the pups and to neighboring plants have them to collapse as well .
When the effect of the snout weevil plan of attack progresses this far , there is no level in seek to save the plant . It is dead !
It ’s very important to withdraw every shadow of it ( and surrounding agave plants ) from your garden .
Dispose of the agave plants all to prevent the spread of the bacteria .
How To Prevent Snout Weevil Infestation
It ’s very hard to plow with snout weevil restraint because :
Even so , apply the least toxic agave snout weevil treatment , repellent , and insecticide usable such as :
… as a precaution , before the beetles appear could be helpful .
Plant Agave Cultivars Unattractive To Snout Weevils
Another way to prevent or control agave weevil attack is to plant agaves that weevil get “ not attractive . ”
Horticulturists are working firmly to evolve specific schnoz weevil - resistant cultivar .
As a oecumenical rule , snout beetle seem less attract to agaves like theAgave Attenuata specieswith :
Snout Weevil Treament – How Do You Get Rid of Snout Nose Weevils and Their Larvae?
If you see an agave nozzle weevil , it ’s in all likelihood too late for care .
At this percentage point , employ a systemic pesticidesuch as Triazinon to vote down the beetles and the larva as they feed on your works .
Even so , saving the plant may not be possible . However , it may be possible to foreclose the pest spreading and bacteria .
Systemic pesticides are applied to the soil surrounding affected plants .
When the plant life receives water , the chemical substance is lento released . The plant life root take up systemic insect powder and go around throughout the plant tissues .
Monthly software is urge .
You must be carefulwhen using these types of pesticides . They can have unintended effect and may also bolt down beneficial insects .
Do n’t use systemic pesticides on flowering plant because you stop up shoot down pollinators who visit the flush .
Source : UA Extension|Pin
