Agave Snout Weevil

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Agave Snout Weevil

Details: Created on Friday, 07 December 2012 13:02

Agave Snout Weevil

The Agave Snout Weevil is present in Cyclades and can damage several agave and yucca species.

The “Agave disease” is caused by infestation from the weevil Scyphophorus acupunctatus. Adult weevils have a brown-black body and reach about 12 mm in length.

They infest many species of Agave, but the very large Agave americana is more prone to attack than smaller species. The same weevil also attacks several species of yucca.

Adult female weevils enter the base of the plant to lay their eggs. Infected plants have initially a withered appearance and soon after collapse and die. The young larvae develop and soon look for other plants to infect nearby.

As control of the disease is difficult, it is recommended to opt for smaller agave species that are less susceptible. This is especially the case in areas where the problem has occurred before. Spraying in spring with a broad spectrum insecticide can also reduce infection danger.

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FAQ

Why did the seeds not germinate? +
The seeds may have been planted during the wrong season when conditions were not adequate. If aged seeds were used, they may have had reduced germination power. Finally, the seeds may have dehydrated or rotted as the result of insufficient or excessive watering.
What is the best time of the year for planting? +
A good time for planting is autumn, when rain is plentiful and temperatures lower. The plant has then time to develop its roots during winter and will be ready to grow well in spring. However, plants that are sensitive to cold weather (e.g. hibiscus) should be planted in spring.
When should I plant vegetables? +
During autumn and winter we plant cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, rocket salad (rucola), beets, lettuce, spinach, leeks, chicory, endives and carrots. In the spring we plant tomatoes, courgettes (zucchini), aubergines, peppers.
Which plants bloom all year round? +
While most plants bloom during a specific season, some varieties can flower longer under the right weather conditions. Some plant examples with long flowering seasons are geraniums, ivy-leaf geraniums, felicia, gaura, polygala, hibiscus, lavender, impatiens, gazania.
Which plants tolerate shade? +
Examples of plants that grow well in the shade include angelicas, pittosporum, ruscus, rhaphiolepis, ivy, as well as the flowering plants vinca and impatiens.
Which plants are wind resistant? +
Many plants that do not grow too tall and have hard leaves are resistant to wind. Examples of wind resistant plants are tamarisk, eucalyptus, araucaria, pine, angelica, atriplex, melaleuca, metrosideros, chamaerops, canary palm, washingtonia, myoporum, carissa, geraniums, pelargonium, westringia and many herb varieties like e.g. rosemary.
Which plants do not need pruning? +
Pruning is generally not necessary for slow growing plants like pittosporum, rhaphiolepis, dwarf polygala, metrosideros, phillyrea and mastic tree.
Which plants are resistant to drought? +
All plants need access to some water, especially during their early development stages when they grow their roots. Plants with low water requirements are cacti and succulents, many aromatic plants, geraniums, ivy-leaf geraniums, some grasses and several native plants like lentisk, esparto, rhamnus (buckthorn), alfalfa.
Which plants are best for hedges? +
Some hedging plants that are also suitable to the climate in Cyclades are oleander (nerium), angelica, myoporum, melaleuka, bamboo, atriplex, metrosideros, capensia.
Which plants grow well in coastal areas? +
Some examples of plants that grow well near the coast are cacti and succulents, angelica, araucaria, oleander, elaeagnus, pine, tamarisk, fig tree, mastic tree, metrosideros and carissa.