Vine weevil in soft fruit: Chemical control

Take a look at the chemical plant protection products that can potentially be used combat vine weevil, alongside further guidance on the components of an effective integrated pest management (IPM) programme.

This information was last updated in 2018.

Please read the disclaimer at the bottom of this page

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Plant protection products

Within an IPM programme, it is best to use products safest to biological control agents when controlling other pests.

A summary of the various components of vine weevil integrated pest management (IPM) programmes for soft fruit crops can be found in Table 1.

IPM component	Action
Monitoring	Check around roots for larvae March-November, check again 2-4 weeks after nematode application to guide repeat applications Check for adult activity and damage April-October
Cultural control	Dispose of badly infested plants, substrate and containers, keep weeds controlled and maintain good farm hygiene. Site new plantations away from vine weevil-infested crops. Consider using barrier glue on table-top supports. Keep punnets and trays off the ground during picking in known infested crops.
Entomopathogenic nematodes - timing	In substrate crops, apply by drip-irrigation in April/May if live overwintered larvae found, repeat in August-September (2 applications may be needed during this period). Or consider the ‘little and often’ approach (reduced rates applied monthly May to September). This is being tested on hardy nursery stock in AHDB project HNS 195.
Entomopathogenic nematodes - temperatures	Steinernema kraussei (Nemasys L, Exhibitline sk) 5-30°C Heterorhabditis bacteriophora (Nemasys H, Exhibitline h) 12-30°C H. bacteriophora (Larvanem) 14-33°C H. bacteriophora (Nematop) minimum 12°C Mix of Steinernema carpocapsae, S. feltiae and either H. bacteriophora or H. megidis (SuperNemos) minimum 10°C Heterorhabditis downesi (Nematrident CT) 8-28°C Steinernema feltiae (Entonem) 8-33°C
Met52	Minimum temperature for activity against larvae 15°C. Consider EAMU 1997/2011 for use as a mulch e.g. to plant in large pots, in the spring before adults start laying eggs.
Chemical control - adults	Consider foliar spray(s) against adults in April-May (overwintered adults) or June/July (new adults). Chess WG (EAMU 0862/2017) for outdoor, uncropped soft fruit where a 1-year harvest interval is possible i.e. plants in propagation and Steward (EAMU 1031/2014) for use on outdoor strawberry up to BBCH 91 (most flowers with petals forming hollow balls) or post-harvest from BBCH 59 (beginning of axillary bud formation) are more IPM-compatible than other pesticides and showed promise in HDC project SF HNS 112. (The lower rate for Chess on other EAMUs has not been tested against vine weevil but this work is planned in current AHDB Horticulture project HNS 195).
Chemical control - larvae	No current options.

Table 1. Summary of components of a vine weevil Integrated Pest Management programme for soft fruit crops.

Table 2 lists those products currently recommended for vine weevil control or which offer some incidental control when used against other pests in soft fruit.

Product name (examples)	Active ingredient and IRAC code	Insecticide group	Approval status for soft fruit crops	Application method	Compatibility with biological control agents used for whitefly control*	Comments
Insecticides approved for control of other pests that may give some control of vine weevil adults

Chess WG	Pymetrozine (IRAC code 9B)	Azomethine	EAMUs (1249/2016: protected strawberry and 1248/2016, 1258/2016 and 0862/2017: various protected soft fruit crops).	Foliar spray	Safe to Neoseiulus cucumeris & Encarsia, slightly harmful to Aphidius & Phytoseiulus, harmful to Aphidoletes.	Research in SF/HNS 112 demonstrated some kill of adult vine weevils. Check EAMUS for all conditions of use including permitted crops and harvest intervals.
Plenum WG	Pymetrozine (IRAC code 9B)	Azomethine	EAMUs (1633/2006: outdoor blackberry & raspberry, 1702/2006: various outdoor soft fruit crops).	Foliar spray	Safe to Neoseiulus cucumeris & Encarsia, slightly harmful to Aphidius & Phytoseiulus, harmful to Aphidoletes.	Same active ingredient as Chess WG which gave some kill of adult vine weevils in SF/HNS 112.
Explicit	Indoxacarb (IRAC code 22A)	Oxadiazine	EAMUs (1468/2014: outdoor strawberry, 1369/2013: outdoor & protected raspberry & blackberry and outdoor blueberry).	Foliar spray	Safe to Neoseiulus cucumeris & Phytoseiulus persimilis, slightly harmful to Encarsia, moderately harmful to Orius for up to 3 weeks.	Same active ingredient as Steward which gave some kill of adult vine weevils in SF/HNS 112.
Steward	Indoxacarb (IRAC code 22A)	Oxadiazine	EAMUs (1031/2014: outdoor strawberry and 0988/2013: outdoor & protected raspberry & blackberry and outdoor blueberry).	Foliar spray	Safe to Neoseiulus cucumeris & Phytoseiulus persimilis, slightly harmful to Encarsia, moderately harmful to Orius for up to 3 weeks.	Research in SF/HNS 112 demonstrated some kill of adult vine weevils.
Agrovista Reggae	Thiacloprid (IRAC code 4A)	Neonicotinoid	EAMUs (0465/2008: outdoor strawberry, 2033/10: protected strawberry, 0475/2008: outdoor blackberry, raspberry & Rubus hybrids, 0467/2008: protected raspberry & blackberry).	Foliar spay	Moderately harmful to Aphidius, Encarsia, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Phytoseiulus. Harmful to Aphidoletes.	Check EAMUs for all conditions of use including number of applications per crop per year.
Calypso	Thiacloprid (IRAC code 4A)	Neonicotinoid	EAMUs (2131/2014: outdoor strawberry, 2132/2014: protected strawberry)	Foliar spray	Moderately harmful to Aphidius, Encarsia, Neoseiulus cucumeris and Phytoseiulus. Harmful to Aphidoletes.	Check EAMUs for all conditions of use including number of applications per crop per year.
Bandu	Deltamethrin (IRAC code 3)	Pyrethroid	On-label for control of other pests on raspberry. EAMU (1106/2014: outdoor blackberry, 2527/2013: protected & outdoor strawberry)	Foliar spray	Harmful to most biological control agents for up to 12 weeks, incompatible with IPM.	Research in SF/HNS 112 indicated that some vine weevil populations may be resistant to pyrethroids
Decis	Deltamethrin (IRAC code 3)	Pyrethroid	On-label for control of other pests on raspberry. EAMU (0905/2014: outdoor blackberry, 1643/2013: protected & outdoor strawberry)	Foliar spray	Harmful to most biological control agents for up to 12 weeks, incompatible with IPM.	Research in SF/HNS 112 indicated that some vine weevil populations may be resistant to pyrethroids
Hallmark with Zeon technology	Lambda-cyhalothrin (IRAC code 3)	Pyrethroid	EAMUs (1705/2011: outdoor & protected strawberry, 0728/2006: outdoor raspberry, blackberry & Rubus hybrids).	Foliar spray	Harmful to most biological control agents for up to 12 weeks, incompatible with IPM.	Research in SF/HNS 112 indicated that some vine weevil populations may be resistant to pyrethroids
Pyrethrum 5 EC, Spruzit	Pyrethrins (IRAC code 3)	Pyrethrins	On-label for control of other pests on all outdoor and protected crops	Foliar spray	Harmful to most foliar-dwelling biological control agents, but short persistence.	Research in SF/HNS 112 indicated that some vine weevil populations may be resistant to pyrethroids and therefore could also be resistant to pyrethrins.

Table 2. Plant protection products that are either recommended for vine weevil control or will give some incidental control when used for control of other pests in soft fruit (September 2017).

The information in this table has been collated using information from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website (pesticides.gov.uk) and from suppliers’ labels and product technical information. Important - regular changes occur in the approval status of plant protection products, arising from changes in the legislation or for other reasons. For the most up to date information, please check the HSE website or with a professional supplier or BASIS-qualified consultant, as information could have changed since this factsheet was produced.
EAMU - Extension of Authorisation for minor use.
Growers must hold a paper or electronic copy of an EAMU before using any product under the EAMU arrangements. Any use of a plant protection product with an EAMU is at grower’s own risk.
Always follow approved label or EAMU recommendations, including rate of use, maximum number of applications per crop or year, harvest interval and where crop safety information is not available, test the product on a small number of plants to determine crop safety prior to widespread commercial use.
If in doubt about which products are permissible on soft fruit crops or how to use them correctly, seek advice from a BASIS-qualified consultant with expertise in soft fruit production.
* Full details of compatibility of plant protection products with biological control agents are available from biological control suppliers or consultants. See the following websites: www.biobest.be and www.koppert.com.
‘Safe’: kills<25% of the biological control agents; ‘slightly harmful’: kills 25-50%; ‘moderately harmful’: kills 50-75%; ‘harmful’: kills >75%.

Key considerations

Further details of the side effects of plant protection products (PPPs) on biological control agents can be found on several dedicated websites listed below:

When choosing the optimum control products, consult a BASIS qualified advisor and if necessary, seek the advice of an IPM consultant, the biological control supplier or the supplier of the PPPs.

Useful links

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Biology and plant damage

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Sources of infestation, behaviour and monitoring

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Effects of crop type and production system

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Cultural control

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Biological control – nematodes

Vine weevil in soft fruit: Biological control – nematode application methods

Biological control – fungi and natural predators

AHDB Project SF HNS 112 - Evaluation of insecticides for control of adult vine weevil under controlled conditions

Original author/s

Jude Bennison, Janet Allen & John Atwood, ADAS

Tom Pope, Harper Adams University

Disclaimer

Please note this information was last updated in 2018. Biocidal and plant protection products must only be used in accordance with the authorised conditions of use. Regular changes occur in the authorisation status of biocides and plant protection products. For the most up to date information, please check with your professional supplier, BASIS registered adviser or the Chemical Regulation Division (CRD) of HSE (https://www.hse.gov.uk/crd/) before use.

While the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board seeks to ensure that the information outlined on this page is accurate at the time of publishing, no warranty is given in respect thereof and, to the maximum extent permitted by law the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board accepts no liability for loss, damage or injury howsoever caused (including that caused by negligence) or suffered directly or indirectly in relation to information and opinions contained in or omitted from this information.

Topics:

Pests

Sectors:

Horticulture

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Vine weevil vine weevil control pests control Chemicals