2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Today we continue our conversation about potato pests
Continuation. Start here …
The number of quarantine pests should also include the potato cyst nematode. This pest manifests itself on the roots and tubers of potatoes, in addition, it can also infect the roots of tomatoes. The male's body is worm-shaped, but the female's is spherical, and there is a short neck at the front end. Females are initially white in color, then they turn yellow and eventually turn brown. After fertilization occurs and eggs are laid, these pests turn into cysts and remain in the soil. Actually, such cysts can retain their strength for even more than ten years. Therefore, the fight against such a pest will be very difficult.
Infected bushes will lag significantly behind in growth, and their lower leaves will actively wither. The root system will be very poorly developed, and the tubers will form very small. However, under the condition of a small infection, there are no visible signs. This damage can only be noticed by digging up the tubers. However, if you continue to grow potatoes in the same places, then gradually the foci of infection will increase. Actually, this pest is spread by already infected tubers and soil.
Another rather dangerous pest will be the potato moth. In addition to potatoes, it can also have a negative effect on tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Outwardly, the pest is a small butterfly, it has rather narrow wings, equipped with a fringe. The front wings will be gray-brown in color with dark spots, while the hind wings will be light gray in color.
The eggs of this pest will be white, while they have a creamy shade that will darken before the caterpillar emerges. Caterpillars are greenish, their color is dirty cream. The length of such tracks can be up to one centimeter. The caterpillars' heads are black or dark brown. Actually, the most characteristic signs of the appearance of these pests will be excrement, which will form after the caterpillars appear in the tuber. If the caterpillars get over into the stem, then it will die off. In warm temperatures, one generation develops within a month.
The methods of struggle will be the regular implementation of all quarantine measures. Actually, the main goal will be to protect against the appearance of these pests and their subsequent spread. Therefore, the soil should be disinfected either after harvesting or in the spring, about a month before the start of planting work.
As for the methods of dealing with wireworms and a bear, here it will be necessary to dig up the soil both in early autumn and in early spring. After that, a large number of various beetles, pupae and larvae will enter the upper layers of the soil, which will lead to their death in winter. Also, in those areas that are inhabited by wireworms, in summer and spring, the row spacings should be loosened to a depth of about ten centimeters. It is recommended to regularly and eliminate weeds, as well as liming acidic soils.
Lures will also be an effective method of dealing with wireworms. For this purpose, you can use pieces of the potato itself; they must be buried in the soil and placed in the aisles. After a few days, these potatoes should be removed and destroyed along with the larvae. Such measures can be taken up to the final result.
As for the bear, bait is also suitable here. You can use corn, barley and wheat baits. To this should be added the so-called metaphos, then this mixture is mixed and dried. This mixture must be added to the soil a few days before planting. In this case, the mixture should be at a depth of about two to three centimeters.
The eggs and larvae of the bear can also be destroyed by loosening, carried out two or three times in a row at a rather impressive depth. It is recommended to use this measure starting in June.
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