Meadow moth from time to time gives outbreaks of large-scale breeding and is very harmful to agricultural land. This pest is characterized by a wide range of crops it eats, a high share of harmfulness of caterpillars, the ability of butterflies to fly long distances and domesticate the widest territories. All these characteristics make the moth one of the most serious pests.
A meadow moth goes through four stages of transformation: a caterpillar appears from an egg, which, in turn, becomes a chrysalis, and an imago appears from a chrysalis - a butterfly. An adult is considered a gray-brown moth. In a calm position, it looks like a triangle. Its wingspan reaches 25 mm. The moth flies in short but fast zigzag flights.
The caterpillar has a greenish-gray color, dark stripes on the back and sides, between which are winding yellowish stripes. The head is black with a white pattern. Caterpillars feed on both cultivated and wild plants. The most popular are sugar beet, peas, sunflower, corn,gourds and vegetable crops. The caterpillar eats wormwood, quinoa, bindweed and even bitter and poisonous herbs. During the period of its development, the caterpillar molts four times and goes through five instars. The most harmful time of the caterpillar's life is 2-5 years, its length then is from 0.8 to 3 cm. At this time, the caterpillars eat around the clock and stop only to molt.
Meadow moth. Control measures
The areas captured by the caterpillar should be plowed deep. Loosen and hill plants. A young caterpillar, covered with earth, will not be able to get out. Destroy weeds not only in the fields, but also on the side of the road and in the present territory. This should be done before the beginning of the summer of butterflies. You can destroy the weed using the preparations "Glyphos" or "Hurricane Forte". Primary signs of the action of these funds will appear in a week. Thanks to the action of the drugs, the butterflies will have nowhere to lay their eggs, and the meadow moth will fly further. Or they have time to lay eggs, but the larvae will be left without food.
But during the breeding season, the meadow moth, especially its second generation, is rather difficult to hatch. The use of insecticides "Kinmiks" and "Fufanon" will help. Lepidocide, a biological preparation, does an excellent job with caterpillars. Its use is allowed even on vegetable crops five days before the start of harvesting vegetables. All surrounding plants are treated with drugs.
If a gardening partnership has chosen a meadow moth, the photo of which you see, is very importantstand up to fight the pest collectively. The main emphasis should be on the destruction of caterpillars, this will help save the current year's crop, reduce the number of pests for the next season.
The moth especially likes to destroy sugar beet crops, for which huge territories are allocated. Mass reproduction of the pest can lead to considerable economic damage. Therefore, you should carefully monitor the phytosanitary status of crops.
