Strawberry pests - description and methods of control
Content:
Strawberry pests: briefly
All pests cause irreparable harm to strawberry bushes, and can also adversely affect future crops. It is possible to eliminate pests both by special chemical means and by folk methods.
Phased processing of strawberry bushes
To stop the spread and development of dangerous insects, it is necessary to carry out processing in several stages: 1) In the spring, that is, even before the beginning of flowering; 2) In the autumn, after the last strawberry harvest has been harvested. Chemicals are considered the most effective means, but their disadvantage is that most of them cannot be used during active growth.
Traditional methods in this regard benefit from their organic nature and sparing impact. But you need to use them even before the formation of fruits.
It can be processed both when watering and when spraying. It is best to carry out this procedure in the evening or in the morning, so that there is no interference in the form of wind, rain or the scorching rays of the sun.
Strawberry pests: how to prevent an attack
There are several tricks that will help in this matter: 1) Buy seedlings only in trusted places and from trusted people; 2) To disinfect the soil for planting; 3) Fertilize and feed regularly and on time; 4) To demolish the upper part of the earth, because pests hibernate there; 5) Do not overmoisten the soil; 6) Carry out timely trimming of whiskers and foliage.
Plants that repel pests
You can also plant plants near the strawberry bushes that do not like pests, namely: 1) Marigolds; 2) Calendula; 3) Cucumber herb; 4) Tansy; 5) Tobacco; 6) Garlic; 7) Bow.
Insects - pests of strawberries
They can live both in the ground and directly on the bush. They can carry diseases, infections, fungi. Devour foliage, root system, buds, inflorescences, buds, juice and fruits.
Weevil
Weevil is a small black bug. He spends his winter under the leaves of strawberries, and in the spring he moves to the buds and lays eggs there. The hatched larvae eat the bud from the inside and pupate there. And by the middle of summer, a new generation of enemies awaits you. They destroy all the tender pulp of the berries and go back to hibernation. You can fight by spraying. An iodine solution is a folk remedy. Dilute one teaspoon in a bucket of water. At the moments of fruit formation, you can process it as follows: 1) Dilute ten grams of mustard powder in a bucket of water; 2) Dissolve two kilograms of ash in a bucket of water; 3) Dissolve five grams of potassium permanganate in a bucket of water.
Strawberry leaf beetle
The strawberry leaf beetle is a small bug up to four millimeters in length. The color is red-brown, the head is black. Eats foliage. The larvae hatch when the strawberry starts flowering. You can notice it because of the holes formed on the foliage, dried leaves and small fruits. It is quite difficult to deal with it, because it multiplies very quickly. For prevention purposes, you need to regularly weed a bed of strawberries, destroying weeds. And in early spring, sprinkle the holes with tobacco dust.
May bug larvae
The May beetle itself is not very small in size, brown in color. But the biggest danger to strawberries comes from its larvae.They develop for several years and all this time they feed on humus and the root system of the culture, this can adversely affect the growth and development of the bush. You can fight with chemicals and sprays. Also, during digging, they can be collected directly by hand. As a folk remedy, onion peel infusion is used. The bucket needs to be filled with onion husks by thirty percent, pour water and let it brew for about five days.
Strawberry mite
The strawberry mite is a subtle but dangerous insect. When it is populated on your bush, the plant withers, and its foliage shrinks. It eats, like the whitefly, plant sap. It multiplies at lightning speed and produces several generations in one season. High humidity and air temperature contribute to their appearance. The fight against them includes: 1) collection and burning of plant residues; 2) processing; 3) fertilization; 4) spraying. As a folk remedy, infusions are suitable for: 1) Onion peel; 2) Garlic; 3) Dandelion.
Spider mite
Spider mite - if a small and thin cobweb has appeared on the bush, then you should know that this is a mite. The mite prefers the cell sap from the stems and leaves of the culture. This inhibits its growth, reduces fruiting and the bush gradually dies. Spraying will help in the early stages of his attack. From folk remedies recommend infusion on: 1) Tobacco; 2) Luke; 3) Garlic; 4) Hot pepper.
Nematodes
The nematoda is dangerous because it lays its eggs on the leaves and buds of the plant. Two weeks after hatching, the larvae grow to an adult one millimeter long. You can understand this: 1) if the petioles of the foliage are reddened; 2) the peduncle is deformed; 3) red spots appeared on the foliage; 4) the berries have become very small, or the bush has completely ceased to bear fruit. Methods of dealing with nematode: 1) selection and disinfection of only strong and strong seedlings; 2) complete destruction of weeds in the beds; 3) digging a site where the culture is growing.
Whitefly
Whitefly is a small insect with whitish wings. This gourmet feeds exclusively on strawberry leaf juice and also sets eggs on the underside of the leaf plate. Its larvae stick to the foliage and it looks as if they weaved something like a cocoon for themselves. From these cocoons, adults subsequently emerge. In one summer, this pest can give birth to up to four generations of new strawberry enemies. Prefers to hibernate in the ground, under the bushes of berries. In the fight against it, timely spraying helps a lot. As a folk remedy, use: 1) Infusion of garlic; 2) Infusion on Dalmatian chamomile.
Bronzovka
Bronze - in appearance it resembles something like a fly and a beetle with white pile along the perimeter of the body. At the very beginning of the flowering culture, it likes to devour leaves and stems, while actively multiplying. To protect against it will help: 1) deep digging of soil; 2) destruction of wet tops; 3) manual collection of bugs.
Medvedka
Medvedka - is a brown insect up to six centimeters in length. It is dangerous in that it lays eggs in the ground, and the hatched larvae eat the roots, as a result of which the plant dies. You can fight with the help of various traps in which you need to place poisoned grains or honey.
Aphid
Aphids - these small insects practically cover the whole plant. In the process of reproduction, it moves to neighboring bushes and does great harm. With its appearance, the foliage curls and dries up. Flowering and fruiting are inhibited. The berries are deformed. Spraying can help in the fight against it. Folk remedies can be as follows: 1) Soap solution; 2) Broth of tobacco; 3) Bitter pepper tincture.
Tobacco thrips
Tobacco thrips are small insects that look like cockroaches. They suck the nutritious juice from the leaves. Because of their presence, the bush withers and dies. Eggs are laid on the lower part of the leaf; up to five new generations can be hatched per season.In the fight against it, spraying before flowering crops helps a lot. Can also be cleaned with soapy water. Or dandelion infusion. To prepare it you need: 1) Thirty percent fill the bucket with dandelions; 2) Cover with water; 3) Let it brew for four days.
Slugs
Slugs are small snails without shells. High humidity contributes to their appearance. They prefer berries and young strawberry leaves. During the day, it hides under the foliage, and goes into the soil for the winter. To expel them from the beds will help: 1) covering with agrofibre; 2) mulch; 3) spraying.
Conclusion
When choosing a means of control, you need to build on the type of pest and the time of its identification.