The adult weevil is brown with a hard shell and a snout. It's about 1/5" long. The larvae looks like a white grub. This pest overwinters as an adult in the garden litter and hedgerows.
The larvae easts celery hearts and tunnels into the tops and roots of carrots and other plants. They destroy plant tissue. Zigzag tunnels can be found in the tops and roots of infested plants. Plants may be defoliated completely.
Plants affected are carrots, celery, parsnips, and parsley.
Controls include parasitic nematodes, netting to keep out adults, rotenone, sabadilla dust, and handpicking. Yuck! Make sure you have good fall cleanup to prevent debris from becoming a winter home.
Rotenone can be applied as a dust or solution of 5% concentration applied every 3-5 days. You can use this up to 24 hours before harvesting. It also kills beneficials so watch out for that.
Sabadilla dust can be applied under leaves on a weekly basis. The leaves should be wet with dew or moist from raint or a light sprinkling. Apply directly to the weevils.
Attract birds, toads, and turtles. Allow spiders to have free roam. Also, keep Queen Anne's lace and other carrot family weeds away from the garden.
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