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How to protect plants from the cockchafer: useful tips for gardeners
11.05.2023 17:28
Both adult insects and larvae cause harm to plants in the garden and vegetable garden.
Gardeners are bothered by various pests: aphids, ants, carrot and onion flies, cruciferous flea beetles.
The list of pests is extensive. It includes the cockchafer.
May beetles and the garden
The diet of adult individuals includes plant foliage. In addition, beetles cause damage to buds, ovaries, and flowers.
The consequence of the activity of cockchafers is the disruption of photosynthesis. Plants become weak, wither, and produce a modest harvest.
May beetles can strike at a time when the plant is already attacked by aphids or fungal diseases, which only makes the situation worse.
The larvae gnaw at the roots and tubers of herbaceous plants and trees. A "squad" of 3-5 larvae can destroy the root system of a seedling.
The cockchafer likes sandy soil. But the insect does not like heavy clay areas so much.
How to deal with pests
1. The easiest way to combat this is spring soil digging. This is done not only in the beds, but also in the tree trunks.
During this period, it is not so difficult to detect larvae. In spring, they move closer to the roots and are located at a depth of ≈10-20 cm.
Adults are removed by shaking the insects off the plants in the morning and evening.
2. Insecticides are used to combat the cockchafer. Biological preparations help to achieve results without harming the soil and plants. For example, they use products that contain:
- diazinon;
- thiamethoxam;
- imidacloprid;
- bifenthrin.
There are two ways to use insecticides against cockchafers.
1. Surface application followed by incorporation into the soil to a depth of 5-10 cm.
2. Treatment of the root system of plants before planting.
