" Jeanne Stockdale" wrote in message
...
We have just discovered what we think are vine weevil grubs in our
strawberry plants(in glasshouse). Have identified a nematode which should
get rid of them, but how have they got there in the first place?

Most of the plants are in growbags - and some of these are infected. We
also
have one section which is compost (bought in in bags) which seems to be
badly infected and where we have lost about 90% of our plants. We rent out
part of our glasshouse to a plantsman - his plants come in from various
places - UK/Holland/Italy.

As well as wondering how they got there, how can we be sure they won't
come
back!!!

Jeanne

I assume you mean vine weevil larvae are in you strawberries, i.e. little C
shaped grubs, mostly cream coloured with a brown mouth end. I also assume
you discovered them when your plants fell over because they had no roots
left. They got in there by being hatched there, the adult weevils cannot fly
but are excellent climbers and their favourite hobby is to get in containers
and lay their eggs, which hatch into the grubs, which eat the roots of your
plants before becoming adults and repeating the cycle. You will almost
certainly have plants nearby with nibbled edges to the leaves, this is the
damage caused by the adults.

You can't be sure they won't come back. They will. You can treat with the
nematodes as you have mentioned, but like weeds, slugs, snails, you will
never get them all. You should empty out as many of your containers as
possible in autumn, especially the ones near plants showing the adult
damage, and repot your plants into fresh compost with no eggs in it.

Steve