WeevilGuard is a biodegradable guard to prevent pine weevil (Hylobius Abietis) damage to conifer saplings. Pine weevils are beetles native to the UK that eat the bark of young saplings. Because of the pine weevils propensity to kill saplings, their dramatic over population has made them a huge pest to Scottish forestry.

The WeevilGuard would replace the need for the current pest management strategy which consists of bi-annual pesticide application. The guard covers the base of the sapling (the section most desirable to pine weevils) and its innovative geometry prevents pine weevils from climbing past the barrier to the sapling. The guard is applied during tree planting and is planted along with the tree so that it is embedded into the soil. WeevilGuard’s innovative geometry has been developed through iterative testing with pine weevils, while ease of application of the barrier has been addressed through continued consultation and collaboration with tree planters and foresters. The barrier can be applied in under 5 seconds.