An adult rose beetle will not get lost in a flower pot. From April to September it flies to various flowers and feeds on flower juices and pollen. Its larva, which develops hidden in the earth, is different. However, it has no place in a flower pot.
How do I remove rose beetle larvae from a flower pot?
If a rose beetle appears in the flower pot, it is usually its larvae that can attack roots. To relocate the larvae, you can flood the pot or repot the plant and carefully place it in a compost pile or on a rotted tree trunk.
The Rose Beetle
The beautiful, shiny metallic beetle belongs to the scarab beetle and is a protected species of beetle. Its larva is a beneficial insect that contributes to the formation of humus in the compost heap.
They are about one to two centimeters long and are easy to recognize by their greenish to golden, very shiny, thick body. Even when flying, its compact body is unmistakable because it does not spread its iridescent outer wings, but pushes thin hind wings out from underneath. Its thick, whitish larvae grow up to five centimeters long. They live in the soil for a long time (about two years) without causing any damage to plants. The opposite is the case, as it contributes to the formation of humus in the compost heap and consumes dead plant material.
Rose beetle in a flower pot
If a flower no longer thrives properly in its pot, the rose beetle grubs may be to blame. Normally the fat larvae do no harm. However, if they are locked up in the flower pot, they lack food and therefore attack the delicate roots of the potted plant. Since rose beetles are protected, you should not kill their larvae, just drive them away. The easiest way is to collect the larvae from the soil and relocate them. You have two options:
- Take your potted plant and place it in a container with water.
- Allow plenty of water to penetrate the soil.
- The flooding will drive the larvae out of the ground.
- Collect the animals and carefully place them in your compost heap or on a rotten tree trunk.
- Let the flower dry out well over the next few days.
Flooding is usually not possible with large planters. However, you can repot the plant.
- Carefully take the plant out of the pot.
- Remove all soil little by little.
- Shake the roots well.
- Sift the soil to reveal all the grubs.
- Collect the animals and move them to a suitable place.
