How to deal with Khrushchev - we solve a big problem with small pests

On warm April days, flying insects can be seen in the air. Some of them are harmless to plants, others contribute to the pollination of flowering crops, and still others are pests. The chafer or chafer and its larvae can cause significant harm to the garden and garden. Adults eat flowers and leaves, and larvae eat roots. An invasion of insect pests is a real disaster for the garden site, so it is important to learn how to deal with khrushch. Experienced gardeners have in their arsenal many means and methods of exterminating insects. They are ready to share information with everyone.

May Khrushchev - what does a pest look like?

The chafer beetle belongs to the family of lamellar insects, characterized by large body sizes. Adults reach 32 mm in length. Their oval-shaped body expands in the middle, the color is dark - from reddish-brown to black. At the end of spring, the mating season of the Khrushchev female, lays up to 70 eggs in the ground under the roots of the trees. After that, she dies, and after 1.5 months, larvae emerge from the eggs. They have a pale thick body with a yellow or brown head, six legs and strong jaws that can cope with the roots of the tree.

Attention. In the first year of life, small larvae are not dangerous for the root system; they feed on plant debris found in the soil.

The development of grubs from larva to beetle takes 3-5 years. The grown individuals become a disaster in the garden, they are voracious, do not have food specialization and eat the roots of any plants. Pests like loose, humus-rich soil. By the fourth year, the larva turns into a chrysalis, from which the May beetle comes out in a month.
Young Khrushchevs winter in the ground at a depth of more than 1 meter. With the onset of heat, they get out, continuing the breeding cycle on the trees. Throughout the life cycle, insects feed on plants, causing irreparable damage to trees, bushes and vegetable crops. How to get rid of horsetail in the garden - this question arises for each owner of the site. There are many ways to deal with a pest, consider the most effective ones.

Interesting! Young beetles (adults) take off on trees in May, because of this feature the name insects appeared.

May beetles harm

Khrushchev is one of the most dangerous pests of agricultural crops and orchards. In the 50s, their growth was stopped using pesticides. In some regions, pests have been completely eradicated. The ban on the use of hazardous substances has led to the restoration of quantity and grit.

Why are May bugs considered malicious pests? Adult insects feed on flowers and leaves of trees. Apricot, apple, cherry, birch - will be enjoyed by pests. They do not miss the bushes - lilac, currants, raspberries. If on the trees uninvited guests can be seen, then the larvae are detected by the results of their activities. If healthy bushes of strawberries or grapes begin to wither and turn yellow with good watering, then their roots have been eaten by khrushch.

The pest is not limited to the roots of the bushes, it spoils the vegetable crops:

• potatoes;
• carrot;
• beets;
• corn;
• cabbage.

Khrushchev can spoil not only the garden, but lawn grass. The larvae bring the greatest harm to plants, therefore, the main methods of control are aimed at their destruction.

Attention. Several May beetles in a week eat all the leaves and flowers from a young tree or bush.

Khrushchev Methods

Many methods have been developed to kill pests. They differ in their effectiveness and environmental impact.

Mechanical and environmentally friendly methods

If you do not want to use chemicals in your area, then use the proven methods to combat khrushchem in the garden:

1. Digging the ground. In the process of autumn digging up the garden, the larvae are close to the soil surface, where they die in the cold. Before the start of the sowing season, it is worth digging the ground again, in spring, the larvae are at a depth of 20-25 cm. They are easy to detect and collect by hand. Once on the surface, pests become prey for birds.
2. Strawberries can be protected from pests by planting under agrofibre or by mulching the soil. As mulch, crushed pine bark, sawdust, and straw are used. These obstacles will not allow the female beetle to get inside the soil to lay eggs.
   

   Tip. To fertilize, strawberries and strawberries are often used humus, which can be infected with chives. In order not to bring the pest to the beds, it is worth carefully inspecting the fertilizer before applying.

3. Traps and mechanical picking. In the early morning, when it is still cool, the bugs on the branches become numb. Having spread the film under the tree, they are shaken off, and then they are collected and destroyed. To destroy adult beetles, traps are used:
   • Velcro for flies, hung on a tree, an effective remedy for khrushche. Flying beetles stick tightly to the ribbons.
   • Light trap from a lamp placed in a container with sticky walls. At night, light attracts insects.
   • Plastic bottles with bait in the form of fermented kvass or jam. At the tank, the upper part is cut off and turned inward with the neck. Beetles will fly into the formed funnel.
     

     Tip. In the manufacture of the light trap, you can use a portable lamp or a device with a battery. It will help to collect not only May bugs, but also pest butterflies flying at night.

4. Attraction of natural enemies. The natural enemies of the horsetail are starlings and hedgehogs. Birds can destroy a huge number of beetles and larvae. To lie down, you need to build a birdhouse. The presence of hedgehogs on the site guarantees an early deliverance from the May horsetail. A small adroit predator eats insects with great pleasure. Domestic chickens are also not averse to eating a chafer.
   

   Attention. Starlings are omnivorous birds, they will peck not only insects, but also berries on the trees. This fact should be considered before deciding on the design of a birdhouse.

5. Planting a white clover. On the roots of the legume plant, nitrogen bacteria form, which scare away the scrub. These pests really do not like nitrogen, therefore, nitrogen fertilizers are used to get rid of them. Perennial photophilous clover can be planted on the lawn or near the beds. In addition to clover, pests avoid mustard, turnip and lupine. These plants can be safely planted between rows.

Insecticides for killing larvae

The destruction of adult beetles will not help to completely get rid of pests, because the main threat lurks in the ground. To protect the roots of seedlings will help chemicals from the beetle:

• “Antichrush” - a substance damages the nervous system of insects: larvae of a mite, mites, caterpillars. It is non-toxic, therefore not dangerous for people and vegetables. The composition is diluted in water (10 ml per 5-10 l), it processes the soil before planting. To protect the trees, the "Anti-Crush" spills out under the plant.
• "Aktara" - the drug is effective against a large number of pests. The insecticide acts in the earth and on its surface. Khrushchev and Colorado beetles die a day after use. The effect of the drug lasts 2 months.
  
• "Initiative" - ​​a tool designed to destroy pests in the ground. It is available in the form of granules, which are mixed with the substrate and have a long effect. Larvae die within 24 hours after contact with the drug.
• “Vallar” is a chemical preparation for combating the larvae of the creep, it is not dangerous for humans and retains its effect for a long time. Along with the larvae of the May beetle, the insecticide kills the bear, wireworms and other soil pests. Upon contact, the agent paralyzes the insect and causes its death. To treat the roots of plants, a solution is prepared - 8 g of the drug per 1 liter of water.

Attention. Processing with insecticides is carried out no later than a month before the ripening of the crop.

Traditional recipes for the elimination of cartilage

Gardeners know many ways how to deal with khrushch; several effective recipes exist for killing a pest:

1. Onion husk tincture is prepared from 100 g of product in 10 l of warm water. The composition is covered and left for 3-5 days. The finished product is diluted with clean water in a ratio of 1: 1. The solution is poured under the root of the affected plants.
2. There is a bottle of iodine in every medicine cabinet, and in the garden it will become a remedy for larvae. Enough 15 drops of the drug in a bucket of water to get the composition that causes the death of the crunch.

This treatment is recommended in the spring, when pests are selected to the roots of plants.

To increase the effectiveness of the fight against May Khrushchev, a whole range of measures should be applied. The parallel destruction of adult beetles and larvae will save plants from pests.