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THE question most often asked the VPI specialists involved in the weevil program is “What do they eat when the thistles are gone?”
“Extensive studies were done before the weevil was ever introduced to this continent,” answered DeOms. “It was kept in quarantine for five or ten years and offered everything under the sun to eat. Except for the dandelion, in insignificant amounts, it wouldn’t eat anything but thistles. The weevil seems to be addicted to thistles!”
A second type of weevil, imported from Italy, is now also being released. The new weevil feeds on the growing tip of the thistle and kills the plants before the flower head is ever formed.
While new releases are being made, DeOms said that extension specialists have great hopes for the unaided spread of the weevil. According to DeOms, Dr. Kok has found the thistle head weevil, which can fly, 20 miles away from a single release site. In Warren, the weevil has spread across the Shenandoah River under its own power.
DeOms said the thistle head weevils are released in May in time to breed and lay eggs. They are placed by hand, ten at a time, on the seed head of the thistle. A single release will include approximately 70 females and 30 males. The Italian weevil, which crawls instead of flies, is released in mass when the plants have reached the rosette stage.
IN Fauquier County, Nic Kortlandt of Rectortown is experimenting with weevils. While using the more conventional spray control measures on most of his farm, Kortlandt released 25 weevils in a pasture bordering on a neighbor’s thistle-ridden field.
Kortlandt hopes the weevil’s efforts will eventually include his neighbor’s property but as yet,
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