Pest identification
What's eating my sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Chestnut weevil (Curculio elephas)
Signs: Larvae burrow through the nut, consuming the flesh; round exit holes in the shell and tunnelled, rotten kernels at harvest.
Control: Collect and destroy fallen nuts daily from late August; hot-water treatment (50°C/122°F for 45 minutes) kills larvae in stored nuts without damaging them.
Chestnut tortrix moth / chestnut moth (Cydia splendana, Pammene fasciana)
Signs: Caterpillars enter nuts through the husk, feeding on the kernel; very similar damage signature to the weevil.
Control: Pheromone traps to monitor adult flight; collect and cold-store nuts promptly; pyrethroid sprays reduce adult populations in commercial orchards.
Squirrels and jays
Signs: Spiny burrs removed and nuts extracted or cached before and at ripening; can remove 20–40% of the crop in woodland settings.
Control: Harvest immediately when burrs split; pick up windfalls daily; netting over isolated young trees.
Deer
Signs: Antler fraying on young trunks in autumn and winter; browse on low foliage and occasional removal of entire burrs.
Control: Tree guards or spiral guards on young trees; deer fencing on productive orchards in high-pressure areas.
Keep sweet chestnut 'marigoule' pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
- What eats sweet chestnut — the species this cultivar belongs to
- What's wrong with my plant? — the diagnosis apps compared
- Common sweet chestnut 'marigoule' problems & fixes
- Sweet Chestnut 'Marigoule' watering schedule
- Sweet Chestnut 'Marigoule' light requirements
- Full sweet chestnut 'marigoule' care guide
Sweet Chestnut 'Marigoule' pests — FAQ
What is eating my sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Sweet chestnut 'Marigoule' is a French hybrid valued partly for its blight resistance, but the chestnut moth and chestnut weevil are significant nut pests across Europe. Chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) remains a background threat. Squirrels, deer, and jays compete for the spiny burrs. Good sanitation is the foundation of nut quality.
How do I get rid of chestnut weevil (curculio elephas) on sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Larvae burrow through the nut, consuming the flesh; round exit holes in the shell and tunnelled, rotten kernels at harvest. Collect and destroy fallen nuts daily from late August; hot-water treatment (50°C/122°F for 45 minutes) kills larvae in stored nuts without damaging them.
How do I get rid of chestnut tortrix moth / chestnut moth (cydia splendana, pammene fasciana) on sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Caterpillars enter nuts through the husk, feeding on the kernel; very similar damage signature to the weevil. Pheromone traps to monitor adult flight; collect and cold-store nuts promptly; pyrethroid sprays reduce adult populations in commercial orchards.
How do I get rid of squirrels and jays on sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Spiny burrs removed and nuts extracted or cached before and at ripening; can remove 20–40% of the crop in woodland settings. Harvest immediately when burrs split; pick up windfalls daily; netting over isolated young trees.
How do I get rid of deer on sweet chestnut 'marigoule'?
Antler fraying on young trunks in autumn and winter; browse on low foliage and occasional removal of entire burrs. Tree guards or spiral guards on young trees; deer fencing on productive orchards in high-pressure areas.