Viburnum beetle

[Merritt]

I'm useless when it comes to green fingered things & the internet is full of different advice... Has anyone found an effective way to get rid of Viburnum Beetle? It destroyed our hedge last year and I believe there is every chance that the critters are laying eggs everywhere ready to kill again.

Any advice greatfully received.

[Simpo Two]

Sounds tricky - good insecticides are pretty much all banned.

Found this - any use? http://gardening.about.com/od/gardenproblems/a/VLB...

[Wings]

Ensure you cultivate/clear the ground beneath the hedge , also put fat balls, nesting boxes, basket nests within the hedge, hoping that the birds might be persuaded to eat the Viburnum Beetle. Much of the good old established insecticides that would have treated the problem have been banned under EU regulations.

[Merritt]

Thank you both. Wings, I have to ask, what on earth is a fat ball!?

I have currently sprayed the hedge with am insect killer which apparently is one of the better ones on the market but it doesn't list Viburnum beetle explicitly on the container. I suspect that means it probably won't work.

The next door neighbour had the same problem and he has pruned his hedge back down to the stumps! I don't want to do that because ours is currently 6ft tall and gives us a lot of privacy.

Edited by Merritt on Friday 23 April 08:03

[Wings]

In answer to your question: The bugs tend to leave their eggs under the leaves, so nipping the ends of the stems of the hedge, what your neighbour basically has done, goes a long way to addressing the problem. But many bugs on hedges, roses etc. breed from the ground, so good "attention" to the soil under the hedge helps. Good luck making the fat balls.

http://www.cottagesmallholder.com/why-not-make-you...

[Simpo Two]

Merritt said:

Wings, I have to ask, what on earth is a fat ball!?

You never watched Blue Peter then

[MuffDaddy]

When you cook duck/any other fatty meat, drain off the fat and mix it in with something like porridge oats. Either shape into a ball or serve on a nice china plate (I'm still working class mind). The birds love it, we have gone form no bird activity to red breasts and tits.

[HiRich]

Provado Ultimate Bug Killer is the napalm of the domestic persticide market, hurting the most stubborn bugs. Googley seems to indicate good results on viburnum beetles.
Unless very small, I'd consider concentrate over the aerosols. Try covering the bush in fleece to keep it in and make it a killing field (it will make a mess of bees, which you really don't want right now).
Seems they come back later in the year, so be prepared for a second nuking:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/3347972/RHS-a...

[Merritt]

Thanks all

[pacman1]

Simpo Two said:

Merritt said:

Wings, I have to ask, what on earth is a fat ball!?

You never watched Blue Peter then

Ha! I thought it, you wrote it!

[freecar]

There is also a product called neem repel.

This works by smothering eggs and insects in a film and suffocates them (most bugs breath through a shell instead of with lungs as such) and stops them from breeding thus breaking the cycle.

Spray once then again a week later, will kill pretty much everything.

[Simpo Two]

freecar said:

This works by smothering eggs and insects in a film and suffocates them (most bugs breath through a shell instead of with lungs as such)

They have spiracles - tiny holes along the sides from which air diffuses in.

The Chuck Norris of insects is the vine weevil. I whacked one, wrapped it up in a tissue and threw it down the bog. Next day it had climbed out! You never see them move, they just seem to appear.