There are many garden pests, but one wireworm. Any gardener how to get rid of a wireworm in potatoes, so immediately glows with happiness. Learn about the most important ways to fight in our article. Read carefully!
Wireworm. Development cycle
First of all, you need to know that this pest has a 5-year development cycle. In the first year, small larvae appear, and in the next two years they actively grow and develop. Then (in the 4th year) they turn into the so-called nutcracker beetles, which in the 5th year of their development, in May, lay eggs.
Wireworm pests - these are independent larvae of nutcrackers, similar to worms. In length, they reach 2 centimeters. If they settled in your garden - do not worry. How to get rid of wireworm in potatoes? You can deal with it! Now we will prove it to you.
Insidious wireworm. Control measures
- Keep in mind that this pest simply adores acidic soil and damp places. Knowing this, it is easy to guess that the main struggle with this parasite is liming the soil. For this it is necessary to regularly fertilize the earth with ash, lime and chalk.
- Experienced gardeners have long since begun to use ground eggshells against this insect . Throw it on potato holes and on the site throughout the summer.
- You can use ammonia forms of special mineral fertilizers (ammonium sulfate and mineral water).
- There is a rather interesting way to deal with this pest. How to get rid of wireworm in potatoes? The wedge is kicked out with a wedge! Take a few old potatoes, after which we carefully cut off their eyes and soak in an insecticidal solution for a day. Then we dig these potato "traps" in the places of the greatest accumulation of parasites. Do not forget to mark the places with poisoned potato sticks. Change the bait every two days! This method allows you to collect wireworm larvae throughout the summer season.
- Do not forget to regularly weed at least once a week.
- The wireworm on potatoes hates bean crops. They are a great repeller for him. Plant strips of beans, peas, beans and soybeans on potato beds every 1.5 meters.
- To prevent new parasites from planting in your garden, be clean. Never leave potato tops between the beds. Otherwise, the parasite will breed to inconceivable proportions, because it simply adores various plant debris.
- Here is another answer to the question of how to get rid of wireworm in potatoes. When you start to plant potatoes (and tomatoes) - disinfect the grooves and holes with a manganese solution. To do this, you need to make a weak solution of 10 liters. It is enough for at least 20 holes.
So, in this article we told you about effective ways to deal with the larvae of click beetles - wireworms. Remember: if you give up and do not fight this parasite, its number will increase to an unprecedented scale. The whole mass of larvae of different ages on your garden plot will significantly reduce the quality and quantity of the crop (in particular, potatoes). This parasite brings so much loss that you need to get rid of it without fail, no matter how laborious this process may be. This feeling is sweet - victory!