How to Save Strawberries from May Beetle Larvae: Gardeners' Tips
Strawberries are one of the most popular and delicious berries that many gardeners grow in their gardens.
However, this delicacy can suffer from attack by the larvae of the cockchafer, which feed on the roots of the plant and undermine its viability.
How to protect strawberries from this pest and preserve the harvest?
There are several ways to combat cockchafer larvae on strawberries, which can be divided into preventive and active.
Preventive measures are aimed at preventing the pest from appearing on the site or reducing its numbers. Active measures are used when the larvae have already been detected and are causing damage to plants.
Preventive measures include:
Crop rotation. You should not plant strawberries after potatoes, as this increases the risk of infestation with cockchafer larvae. It is better to choose predecessors that do not attract beetles, such as onions, garlic, carrots or lettuce.
Weeds. Some weeds, especially couch grass, create a favorable environment for the development of cockchafer larvae. Therefore, it is important to regularly remove weeds from the beds and between the rows.
Green manure. These are plants that are sown to improve the soil and suppress pests. One of the most effective green manure against cockchafer larvae is lupine, which secretes substances that are destructive to the pest. Lupine can be sown between rows or around the bed.
Beetle trapping. May beetles appear in late April – early May and fly for about two weeks. At this time, you can catch them by hand or with traps made from cans baited with beer or fruit juice. This will prevent them from laying eggs in the soil.
Active measures include:
Mechanical removal of larvae. If you find a cockchafer larva on a strawberry, you need to carefully dig up the bush and examine its roots. The larvae are white, large and easily visible. They need to be collected and destroyed.
Folk remedies. There are many recipes based on herbal infusions or ammonia that repel or kill cockchafer larvae. Some of them are:
Iodine. 10 drops of iodine are diluted in 10 liters of water and the strawberries are watered. This method can be used no more than twice a season.
Mustard. Dilute 2 tablespoons of mustard in 10 liters of water and water the strawberries generously. Mustard irritates the larvae and makes them leave the soil.
Ammonia. 15 ml of ammonia is diluted in 10 liters of water and sprayed on strawberries. Ammonia repels beetles and changes the composition of the soil, making it unsuitable for larvae.
Garlic. Pour cold water over garlic cloves or shoots and leave for three days. Then water the strawberries with this infusion. Garlic repels beetles and caterpillars with its smell.
Chemicals. If folk remedies do not help, you can resort to chemicals that have a nerve-paralytic effect on the larvae of the cockchafer. Among them, the following can be distinguished:
Bazudin is a liquid preparation that needs to be diluted in water and generously watered on strawberries to get rid of cockchafer larvae. The preparation is effective for 45 days after application.
Zemlin. The granulated preparation is scattered over the soil surface and loosened slightly. Zemlin acts on the larvae through the intestines, causing their death.
Force. The powdered preparation is dissolved in water and sprayed on strawberries. Force penetrates the plant tissue and kills the larvae when they enter their body.
Anti-Khrushch. The suspension is diluted with water and sprayed on strawberries. Anti-Khrushch blocks the nervous system of the larvae, causing paralysis and death.
When using chemicals, it is necessary to follow the instructions for use, waiting periods and safety measures.
