What to do if you spot a cockchafer in your strawberry beds: the only surefire way to get rid of the pest

14.02.2023 10:15

The larvae of May beetles, also known by the unseemly name of "May beetles", are capable of causing significant damage to plants, and therefore to the harvest.

According to the expert of the online publication Belnovosti, scientist-agronomist, landscape designer Anastasia Kovrizhnykh , the pests' food is the root system of crops lovingly grown in the garden and vegetable garden.

This disgrace continues for 3-4 years until the growing larva becomes a beetle.

And if an adult insect is easy to spot, for example, when weeding strawberry bushes, then with larvae things are a little more complicated.

You can tell that something is wrong with the beds by the wilting strawberry bushes.

Strawberry
Photo: © Belnovosti

In this case, immediately go in search of the May beetle. If you managed to find a fat larva, the bush should be dug up with a pitchfork and then shaken off. Loosen the soil in the hole - it is quite likely that you will find other specimens here.

Once all the individuals have been removed, the plant can be planted back.

And don’t forget to water your strawberry plantations with preparations such as “Barguzin” or “Bazudin”.

Elena Shimanovskaya Author: Elena Shimanovskaya Internet resource editor