The chafer or chafer is an ambiguous representative of the insect world: for some, it causes delight, and for others - tears. For example, children catch him in joy. The living "toy" tickles the palm so interestingly and unusually rustles in a matchbox. However, gardeners and gardeners are far from joking. These insects do so much harm to them that the fight against May bugs is a "matter of honor" for every summer resident.
What you need to know about them
May Khrushchev, especially their ill-fated larvae, cause enormous damage to various garden crops. For example, the larvae eat the young vineyard, and the adult beetle gnaws the tree trunk in a spiral, causing serious damage to it: when the khrushchch goes around the entire trunk in a circle, the tree will die. The favorite delicacy of these parasites is the leaves of fruit and ordinary trees. In general, the May bug invasion occurs annually. But the peak of their abundance happens approximately every 5 years. The May beetle received its name due to the fact that its flights fall on the last spring month, lasting from 20 to 50 days. If the region is approaching cooling, or spring is expected to be late, then flights are delayed until June-July. The fight against May bugs is a constant "migraine" of the gardener, because, as it turned out, the collection of these insects gives small results. But progress does not slow down, and people have come up with a lot of ways to destroy these pests. Here is some of them.
- Try to catch pests in the light. Set up a trap in an open area so that beetles can see it freely. Pull the rope between the trees and hang a white sheet on it. When it gets dark, set the fluorescent lamp on so that the fabric is fully bright. Note that the males of khrushchev will not fly into the light, but will crawl. They will give out stirring and rustling in the grass. You just have to collect the insects in a bottle, and then burn in the stove. By the way, females are indifferent to this trap, but without males they still can not give new offspring of larvae!
- Fighting with May bugs, or rather, with their larvae will be very effective if you have the opportunity to breed chickens and hang birdhouses at your summer cottage. When the land is plowed in spring, release chickens. For them, the larvae of gherkins are an exquisite delicacy. Starlings are not inferior to chickens in the dexterity of eating these pests.
- Special anti-insect repellents, such as Antichrush, Zemlin, or Aktara, are sold in stores. Remember, the fight against May bugs is carried out strictly according to the instructions attached to these drugs. You can also try using ordinary mustard. She remarkably scares off the larvae. Sow it under the trees and between the rows of strawberries.
- All gardeners know that lupine is the strongest poison for grubs. Inoculate them with the lesion. The mechanism of action is as follows: weeds do not grow on lupine crops, which means that larvae will have nothing to eat except lupins. So they will find their death.
- If the larvae of May beetles annoy you on the beds with potatoes, then prepare a manganese solution. Dilute five grams of potassium permanganate in one liter of water and pour this mixture under the bushes of potato seedlings. Good luck to you!