Notches in leaves

Q: I hope the notches in my fuchsia leaves are made by leaf cutter bees and not by the dreaded vine weevil. I’ve had this pest in potted plants, but never in the main garden.


A: The holes look large and fairly regular in size, so it is likely that the culprit is a leaf cutter bee. These are the fascinating and harmless creatures which build their nests by arranging layers of leaf fragments like pages of a book. Holes in old timber are a favourite nesting site and the damage they do to plants is usually minor.
Vine weevil is a serious pest, however, and is increasingly common in garden soil, as well as in pots and containers.
Fuchsias and primulas – especially auriculas – heucheras and cyclamen are particularly at risk wherever they grow. If you suspect vine weevil, apparent when smaller ‘bite marks’ appear in foliage, or when root damage is taking place, you need to take action.
There are nematode biological controls such as Nemasys, suitable for garden beds, or Bayer Garden Provado Vine Weevil Killer 2 as a soil treatment for containerised plants.