They are dying off from the roots and there could be a variety of reasons for that. I would dig one up and inspect the roots before sprinkling pesticides around purely on suspicion. Pesticides are toxic to wildlife. Dig up one that is partially dead and tell/show what the roots and stem base are like

Can you talk to your neighbors? or visit a garden center and talk to someone knowlegable there? This group is mostly people growing plants in containers or outside their native habitat. You may do better speaking to someone who is in your area and familiar with your native soil/plants/pests etc. or maybe someone here will speak up soon...good luck. Like Nik above, I advise against using a pesticide without knowing why this is happening...you could make things worse and yes, hurt some of your local critters.

Could be Agave snout weevil:(. Is the damage just on Agaves?

I've read SoCal Agaves are being destroyed by those little jerks!

Don't do anything drastic till you get to the root of the evil because that systemic is nasty stuff, and should only be used as the very very last resort:).

Sounds likely. Dig up a plant and check the stem. Apparently the beetles cause bacterial rot in the stem http://backbonevalleynursery.com/agave-snout-weevils/

Thank you everyone! I pulled one out and it was teeming with larvae and slender beetles, but they do not look look like the agave beetles. I am scared to use a pesticide with all the wildlife around, but I have probably 30+ of these plants left. Are there any alternative solutions?

Can sulfur powder help?

Thank Ycloh1. I dont know where to get sulfur powder.

I paid a guy $80 to come out here and give advice. When I paid the $80 I was hoping he would tell me the problem and how to fix it. All he said is the plants were planted in the wrong spots and it might be beetles. I paid a landscape architect thousands of dollars for a plan and so far much of what he recommended has died.

I pulled some more agave and did not see beetles. I saw one larvae on one plant only. I am not sure the problem is beetles now. One plant I pulled had oozing smelly fluid. But I saw no beetles. I put some poison around a few of the live plants, but it wouldnt soak into the hard ground. I rubbed dirt on top and covered it with rocks (with gloves) as I am scared about the wildlife. I finally stopped because I dont want to hurt any animals. I also read it is better to do in the spring so the roots can take it up. It is extremely disappointing to see my plants dying.

How disappointing I'm pretty sure you've got Agave snout weevil:(. I wouldn't bother using the systemic on the affected Agaves. They're toast:(.

The beetles start out as little grubs and then turn into beetles. The beetle drills into the core and lays eggs. Then the eggs hatch as larvae and eat your Agave. That ooze you encountered was from the adult beetles. Before they lay the eggs they will inject a bacteria that pretty much melts the Agaves flesh.

They also eat other plants like Yuccas and Furcreae. There's a few more plants they destroy that I can't think of at the top of my head right now.

I would definitely get rid of the affected plants and throw them away:(!

Here's some info below.

Agave Snout Weevil:(

ps- that guy you paid $80 too should give you your money back! It might be beetles? Common dude!

I don't have any experience with these and am in different climate so can't help, just have one question. You said:..."I put some poison around a few of the live plants, but it wouldnt soak into the hard ground"... Why is ground so hard? I would be really concerned with that. It should be gravely if you grow succulents in it??? Do you know what they used? Maybe you can post photo of whole area in question?

BTW, I don't think sulfur is of any help, it is more of fungicide IIRC. Not absolutely sure - maybe it works on some bugs but I doubt it will work on Agave weevil.

Thank you so much Kara! This is great info! I think you are right. I dont have a shovel, but I pulled up all the ones I could by hand. I am waiting for a quote from the $80 guy to clean up the yard and do maintenance. He would at least have rec. if I hire him on where the plants will grow best. I am going to ask that he treat the remaining plants, if possible.

Hi Rina - the ground was softer by the plants. The insecticide said to pour it away from the plants, but it wasnt very specific. I'm in the desert and the ground can get compact around here. I may have poured too much and that is why it wouldnt soak in. I really dont know what I am doing. When it's light tomorrow, I'll take some more pics. I'd appreciate all the advice and help I can get to keep my remaining plants alive. :)

I didn't know that it is native soil, I thought whole area was designed & landscaped, including bringing in some substrate. Sorry you are having all these problems, hopefully you'll get some good help from the guy...

I think Kara's advice about switching plants may be best. Disappointing, but some issues can't really be helped. When I moved into my place, I got gung-ho in the garden and planted out spinach and tomatoes in one section. Then I discovered that my soil has eelworm :( Now I grow Daikon radish and the cabbage family there because they are unaffected by this nematode, which destroys roots. Apparently adding plenty of compost increases beneficial fungi in the soil that control eelworm. I'm working on it, but it will take a few seasons before I try vulnerable crops there again.

There may be environmentally friendly ways to control snout weevil, there may be research on it out there. It sucks to have paid people for this result. I actually wish I could get my hands on some of these weevils, they are around in my country. Agaves are invasive here. Although Agaves are easy to remove, sisal is hell. There's a huge patch on the edge of my property

Thanks everyone!! I think you are right and I will have to change up the plants. I'll look into the aloes, Kara. This is all very disappointing.

Rina- The whole area was landscaped using bulldozers, with new hardscape and many new plants added, etc. What do you means about the soil? I'm asking because I am ignorant on gardening. Out here I haven't seen anyone do it any differently than I did. The only thing I haven't done yet is add decomposed granite. Is that what you mean?

Yes, something like that. I am thinking of some amendments, depending on what the existing soil is like. I am not an expert! But if soil was very hard, compacted and poorly draining I would think about adding some grit to improve drainage. But it may be that your soil is OK to grow succulents as is, just when you mentioned that liquid wasn't soaking into hard ground I thought of poor drainage.

I wonder if a rototiller would work to break everything up.

It sounds like you have hard pan from it being so dry. ive wrecked rototillers in hard pan and have had to get the jack hammer out. I've also used a good old fashion pick before. Before you plant again I would make sure to break the ground up good, doing whatever it takes to break it up. Hard pan just lets water roll right off of it, the water doesn't really penetrate. It does help to do a long soak it does make the ground a little easier to work after a long while of repeated soakings. In the cases I've used jack hammers the irrigation wasn't established yet and adding water wasn't an option! Good luck with the weevils! Agaves are one of my favorites!

HI again, As a former Landscaper, I am wondering when your site was planted/rehabbed etc?? and what the agreement was about continuing care or responsibility by the landscaper? have you spoken with your neighbors? you mentioned above that neighbors had similar issues, wondering if this is a known issue in your area, what is the consensus? I feel like you need advice/help from local folks, professionals, neighbors, or garden center? I feel like you/we are trying to reinvent the wheel here, and while I am certainly learning a lot from the discussion here, I'd love to hear how a pro would address this. I know money may be a factor, or maybe you just want to save your plants, attached to them? maybe put them all in containers if that is the case?? I am ignorant of your conditions....just wondering what's next for you. Hope you can work it out:-)

Lots of good advice in the comments above. My only suggestion would be to seek the advice of someone in the gardening business who specializes in cacti and succulents. Do not trust the folks at the big box stores. They mean well, and many don't have a clue...kinda like the guy you paid $80. It may cost more initially, and in the long run you will save. When I think about how many plants you purchased and had planted, you have already spent a lot of money! Consult an expert. There should be some in your community. Good luck!

OK rockybird, I am now emotionally involved with your plants:-) Who is this dratted landscaper? I'm gonna send one of my guys to talk to him, make him an offer he can't refuse...ughummmm. Seriously what gives??

Thanks for all the support. The plants have been in place for almost two years, so I cant blame the landscaper who planted them. But they are RAPIDLY dying. :(

I have not spoken to my neighbor as they have been out of town and frankly they will not know anymore than I do.

I paid an "expert" recommended by a nursery $80 to look at the plants who was no help! He said it could be beetles, but maybe not, that it could be the intense heat we've had, but maybe not. What a waste of money. He said he would give me a quote to maintain the yard and and also a separate quote to move the plants that were in the sun and needed to be in the shade, and vice versa. He never got back to me and has not returned my phone call.

I have a landscaper who looked at it yesterday and says he knows how to treat it. He said it's not beetles, but some sort of fungus? It will cost $200 to treat. They will use some sort of granules. He doesnt think it will hurt the wildlife as it needs to be wetted down and mixed into the soil. They are coming today. They will also maintain the yard twice a month. He and his brother used to work for a top desert landscape architect and were recommended by the contractor working on my home. I will keep you guys updated!!!

Sorry about your "expert". Please do let us know how this turns out. Good luck.