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Soil pest damage
PestMedium impact
Damage to roots, tubers, or underground plant parts from soil-dwelling pests such as vine weevil larvae, leatherjackets, chafer grubs, or wireworm. Plants often show no above-ground symptoms until damage is severe.
Currently in peak season - extra vigilance worthwhile.
Key facts
- Type
- Pest
- Active season
- Mar - Sep
- Peak season
- Apr - Sep
- Vulnerable stages
- Growing · Harvesting
- If confirmed
- Act soon
Signs & symptoms
- -plants wilting or failing without obvious above-ground cause
- -holes or tunnels in roots, tubers, or bulbs at harvest
- -visible grubs or larvae in the root zone when soil is disturbed
Management
Do now
- -Lift a failing plant and inspect the root zone for grubs or larvae
- -Remove and bin any larvae found
- -Consider nematode biological control for vine weevil or leatherjackets
Prevention
- -Cultivate soil regularly to expose larvae to birds and other predators
- -New ground converted from grass has higher soil pest pressure - allow time and regular cultivation to reduce numbers