2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Woodlice ordinary is able to live exclusively in conditions of high humidity, which provide it with full life. Sometimes woodlice of this species are also called common woodlice-armadillos. Their harmfulness lies in the fact that these unpleasant creatures gnaw the leaves of various crops at the edges or gnaw out rather rough holes of the most diverse sizes and shapes in them. And on the fruits of tomatoes and cucumbers, common woodlice eat away particles of tissue, thereby significantly worsening the commercial quality of products
Meet the pest
Woodlice is an isopod crustacean. Adults are endowed with oblong flattened bodies with a distinct division into separate segments, as well as seven pairs of legs. In length, these parasites can grow up to ten to twelve millimeters. Tactile organs are located at the ends of their bodies, and semicircular armor can be seen on the backs of pests. The color of common woodlice is usually marbled yellowish or dark gray.
Reproduction of these moisture-loving parasites occurs by laying eggs by females. The development of larvae in the early stages for forty to fifty days occurs in water sacs. Initially, harmful larvae have only six legs, and in the process of their development they change their skin ten to thirteen times. They turn into adults in about three months. The active life of common woodlice occurs exclusively at night - in the light of the gluttonous parasites immediately hide in the numerous cracks of the soil.
These unpleasant creatures usually get into greenhouses with soil, as well as with manure and a number of other organic substrates. A particularly favorable factor for their life is the use of straw in cultivation.
Common woodlice is found not only in plots and in greenhouses - it is also a frequent guest of basements, and sometimes it penetrates into houses with apartments. It is noteworthy that if any danger threatens these parasites, then they immediately freeze, sometimes curling up into a ball, and pretend to be dead. And sometimes woodlice are mistakenly called millipedes.
These nasty crustaceans feed on decaying organic matter. Common wood lice find them most often by smell. In fact, they perform in nature the function of so-called "cleaners". And in houses, they prefer to eat potatoes, as well as various vegetables and fruits - in them pests often gnaw numerous passages reaching three millimeters in diameter.
How to fight
In the non-growing season, it is necessary to thoroughly disinfect the greenhouses. Garbage and plant residues must be eliminated. All cultivation facilities should also be well ventilated, and excessive soil moisture should be eliminated.
When the relative humidity drops below 85%, common woodlice often die - this knowledge can be used to regulate the number of these garden scoundrels in the plots or in greenhouses. And yet, it should be borne in mind that, unlike other species of woodlice, common woodlice are sometimes even able to endure drought due to their special respiratory organs located in the area of their hind legs. All other crustaceans lack such organs.
The habitats of common woodlice are sometimes sprinkled with diatomaceous earth - it destroys the skin of the parasites, thereby contributing to their early death.
Some gardeners and gardeners use sticky traps to control woodlice. And sometimes wet rags, leaves and boards are laid out to collect parasites, and then they are treated with boiling water.
In case of emergency, it is also allowed to treat the lower parts of vegetation with pesticides together with the soil.
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