Everyone is familiar with such an insect as the cockchafer. It appears in the spring along with the heat. The insect begins to show particular activity in May. This is how it got its name. It is very difficult to find such a beetle during the day. But in the evening and at night - easily. May beetles are very dangerous for the future crop. Therefore, it is worth fighting them. So how do you get rid of pests?
Why are they so dangerous?
Females after mating penetrate the soil, where they lay their eggs. You can tell them apart by their appearance. They are oval and white in color. The laying depth is about 20 cm. At the same time, the female can lay from 5 to 20 eggs in one place. After that, she dies.
After 6 weeks, insect larvae appear. They are oblong and twisted into a small skein. Each larva in search of food can make a path 100 m long. They move only in a horizontal direction in the upper layers of the soil. In winter, the larvae of the May beetle, the photo of which is presented below, go deep into the ground by 30-100 cm.
As for food, insects are unpretentious in this matter. Beetle larvae can eat almost anything. But most often they can be found in thoseplaces where manure has been introduced into the soil. They feed mainly on plant roots and humus. Most often, trees, corn, strawberries and strawberries suffer from larval activity.
However, adults are the most insatiable. Their body length can reach 6.5 cm. It is they who cause severe damage to plants, as they eat not only leaves, but also roots.
May beetle larva: description
Externally, the larvae of these insects look like white caterpillars with a slight yellowness. Their belly is different. It is much darker than the back of the sides. This is due to the fact that in this part the soft tissues of the larvae are very thin, and the contents of the intestine are visible through them.
The larva of the cockchafer can reach 6 cm in length. They have no eyes, but their jaws are well developed. Distinctive features: dark head, 3 pairs of short legs, thin red hairs located on the abdomen.
Where can I find them?
May beetle larvae live in the soil. The female insect lays eggs only in those places where the "kids" can easily get their own food. Therefore, you can find the larvae in the compost pit or in the dunghill.
Besides the soil, they can live in fallen leaves. Therefore, gardeners recommend cleaning them regularly. In the state of the larvae, such insects can survive up to 5 years, eating the roots of the plant and causing damage to the crop.
Let's consider the main methods of struggle
The fight against the larvae of the cockchafer is a difficult process, butexecutable. If desired, the garden and garden can be completely rid of these insects. The most important thing is to adhere to certain rules and regularly carry out preventive measures. In general, you can use to fight:
- folk remedies;
- special traps;
- biological methods;
- chemical compositions;
- pesticides, etc.
Each of the methods has its own characteristics. Let's look at them in more detail.
White clover and nitrogen
Many experienced gardeners recommend sowing circles near tree trunks with white clover. What for? Bacteria accumulate on the roots of this plant, which absorb nitrogen and synthesize it into protein. This substance, accumulated in the soil, makes it poisonous to the larvae of the cockchafer.
Planting white clover can not only scare away insects, but also improve the condition of the soil, which affects the taste of the fruit. In addition, nitrogen slows down the growth of weeds.
Homemade traps
So, how to get rid of the cockchafer larvae? The easiest way is to prevent their penetration into the soil. And for this, adults are captured. After all, one female is able to lay up to 70 eggs. The use of traps is considered the most effective pest control method.
To protect the garden, you can make such devices yourself. There are several types of these traps. Each of them has its own characteristics. Light and glue traps can be used to control pests. Considereach species in more detail.
Light traps
To get rid of bugs in the garden, you can use light traps. To make it, take a shallow container and grease its walls with something sticky. Solidol is ideal. Place a small but bright light source at the bottom. Set this trap out in the garden at night. In the dark, the light will attract insects. And if there are none, then there will be no larvae of the cockchafer either.
It is worth noting that such a trap allows you to get rid of scoop butterflies. As a result, the harvest of beets, cabbage and other plants will be saved. To achieve a positive result, set the trap every evening for a week. During this period, all insects will fall into the container.
Glue trap
You can make such a device yourself practically from improvised means. To do this, purchase any adhesive composition for catching flies at the hardware store. Take the newspaper and cut it into not too wide strips. Lubricate each blank with the purchased composition. Hang these strips in places where there are most insects. Pay special attention to beds with strawberries and strawberries.
Traps are recommended to be changed daily, as the composition on their surface tends to dry out.
Biological control methods
If the fight against adult insects does not work, then you can resort to biological methods. So, how to deal with the larva of the cockchafer with a little effort? In nature, many amazing anduseful representatives of birds. And, by the way, some of them with great pleasure feast on the larvae of the May beetles. Build some cozy birdhouses to attract birds. A family of starlings will cope with the "enemy".
If you don't want to attract birds, then get a hedgehog. May beetle larvae are also included in the diet of these small animals. A few hedgehogs will suffice for a large area. In addition, they also eat snakes.
Chemicals
If biological methods are not suitable for you, then you will have to use chemical means. However, it is not recommended to get involved in insecticides. Their excessive use can adversely affect the quality and size of the crop. If the situation is very difficult, you can purchase:
- Bazudin.
- Aktara.
- "Antikhrushch".
- Initiate, etc.
The listed chemicals should be used in accordance with the instructions for use. At the same time, do not forget about protective equipment: gloves, goggles and a respirator.
Modern drugs
Modern developments in the field of agriculture are very popular. After all, many of them do not harm the human body and are harmless to plants.
One of the most popular means against the larvae of the Maybug is Nemabakt. It's a bioinsecticide. He perfectly fights insects in the larval stage. The main component of the drug is a nematode. This is a microscopic worm. It easily penetrates the soil, feasts on pests. He does it in a non-standard way. Nematodes penetrate the larva, feed on it and leave offspring. A few days later, the parasite dies. After another three days, the corpse of the larva leaves the offspring of the worm in search of a new victim.
This tool allows you to protect the crop from many pests. At the same time, it is absolutely safe for humans and pets.
Are there prevention methods
It is easier to prevent any problem than to correct the consequences later. This also applies to pest control. To avoid the appearance of such uninvited guests, you should follow certain rules:
- The depth of digging the soil should not be less than 40 cm.
- When larvae are found in the soil, be sure to collect them.
- Get chickens and let them out in the garden in the spring. They also feed on the larvae of the cockchafer. As a last resort, hang birdhouses for starlings.
- In early autumn, be sure to dig up the soil, and then treat it with a weak chlorine solution.
- In the spring, treat the soil near the roots of strawberry and strawberry bushes with a solution of ammonia. When preparing the drug, observe the proportions. For 10 liters of water, 20 ml of ammonia is required.
- Mulching the soil helps a lot. To do this, you can use chopped cara and wood or shavings. Such materials do not allow insects to penetrate the ground.
- You can make grooves between plants by filling them with Karbofos solution (0, 75).
Compliance with preventive measures will save the crop and prevent the reproduction of pests in the garden. The main thing is to follow the instructions.
