Tobacco hawk maker. Effective ways to deal with a tomato pest
Content:
Many summer residents grow tomato on their plots. This is perhaps one of the most popular foods that absolutely everyone can eat. Who can give up their own tomatoes. But, unfortunately, growing tomatoes, you can often meet such a pest as tobacco hawk. It can harm your entire crop in a short period of time. But this does not mean that only the tomato is at risk. Tobacco hawk does harm to eggplants, potatoes, and peppers. This insect merges against the background of green leaves, destroying not only them, leaving traces of holes, but also damaging the fruits of the crop.
Butterfly Tobacco hawker: photo
Tobacco hawk maker: the cycle of life
The life of a tobacco hawk maker has the following cycle:
- During late spring, on the leaf (on the underside), the Tobacco hawk moth begins to lay eggs, which begin to hatch after 7 days.
- Then the larvae of tobacco hawk moth will receive food for about 4-6 weeks until they create a cocoon in the soil for wintering, but if the weather is favorable, warm, then this period can be reduced to 2-3 weeks.
- At the end, tobacco hawk moth butterflies appear and they lay their eggs again. If the climate is warm, then this cycle can be repeated more than once.
How can you tell the difference between a tobacco hawk maker?
The length of a tobacco hawk moth can be 12 cm. If you have never met this insect, then a meeting with it may shock you. Tobacco hawk moths do more harm by assuming the form of a larva or a caterpillar. The tobacco hawk moth has a dark green body with black marks. There is also a horn-shaped protrusion that is located at the back of the insect's body. But you shouldn't be afraid of him. He will not be able to sting you. The larvae of the tobacco hawk moth is very difficult to discern right away, because they simply merge with the vegetation. There are several signs that can help determine if you have these insects in your garden or not.
Look closely at the top often of the tomato leaf. If there is dark green droppings on it, then look at the bottom of the leaf. You will most likely see a tobacco hawk there.
On such stems, white cocoons can be found. Well, and nearby you can find a tobacco hawk.
Ways to combat tobacco hawk
The best method for fighting tobacco hawk is by hand picking. This method is fine if you have the time and patience. If you do not want to do this, then you can throw out their soapy water. If you are the owner of a large plot and the hawk moth population is quite high, then you can use bitoxibacillin. Acting as a poison for the hawk moth, it is absolutely safe for humans and pets.
How to prevent hawk moth breeding
At the beginning and at the end of each season, the soil must be loosened and mixed. This will help you better find the larvae that were hidden during the winter. You can also plant basil and dill between the rows to scare away the tobacco hawk.
Tobacco hawk: photos of butterflies and caterpillars
