What's eating my pansy/viola roots?

[Feedingthebirds1]

Does anyone know? Whatever it is doesn't eat the leaves, flowers or stalks, just the roots. I plant them, they grow great for about 4 - 6 weeks then they wilt. The green bits and the flowers are sitting on top of the soil and the roots have just gone. I've tried a few times and it's always the same. Other things grow in the same places just fine. Petunias positively thrive!!

I can't find anything at all on Google, it's all about them being eaten above ground. Does anyone know (or have any ideas) please?

I had the same trouble I think it was vine weevils, they destroyed a few of my plants.
I used nematodes which seemed to work.
Hope this helps

It's usually vine weevils. In which case you'll find the grubs in the soil, white with brown heads, curled into a C shape. Learn waht the adult looks like and stamp on her whenever you come across her.

I've Googled vine weevils, and sadly it doesn't seem to fit. There are no females round that area and no grubs, and everything I've read says that the grubs do the damage later in the year and over winter. This always happens in early summer - the ones I planted about six weeks ago and were doing brilliantly have wilted over the last week, and yesterday I lifted them all off the ground with no roots.

I find about 2 females a year.

If not vine weevils then possibly slugs.