Fall cleanup is very important. Weevils will make themselves at home among any dead plants that are lying around, so keep your yard clean of debris. They will all feed on various weeds, including morning glory, ragweed, thistle, cocklebur and joe-pye weed. Remove these from the landscape. Bluebirds, warblers, wrens and other birds eat weevils. Spiders catch adult weevils. One of the best techniques for controlling a bad weevil infestation or preventing an attack in the first place is to introduce predatory nematodes to the garden. Release them early in the season, around planting time if possible. There are bad nematodes and there are beneficial ones, such as Neoaplectana carpocapsae [now called Steinernema carpocapsae (Weiser)] which attack black vine weevils, chinch bugs, cutworms, Japanese beetle grubs, pine weevils, sod webworms, strawberry weevils, wireworms, and the larvae of cucumber beetles, flea beetles, gypsy moths, and squash vine borers.  It will not harm beneficial insects or earthworms. Introduce this nematode into the soil. Only the infective juvenile stage of nematodes is functional as an insect control.

For tips on a variety of gardening topics, see our Plant Information Guides.
- Courtesy of NYBG Plant Information Service