Content
Every experienced gardener knows that if a leaf roller appears on a pear, then urgent measures must be taken to destroy it. Otherwise, you can’t dream of a good harvest. And not only in the current, but also in the next seasons. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with what to use to combat the leaf roller, and what preventive measures will help reduce the likelihood of damage to a minimum.
The leaf roller resembles a moth or moth in appearance
What does a leaf roller look like on a pear tree?
The pest that attacks the pear is a small butterfly with a wingspan of 2.5 cm. The leaf roller is nocturnal and begins to fly at dusk. The pest is active from May to the end of September.
The leaf roller has a thick body, densely covered with hairs. In a calm state, the wings are folded not vertically, like those of butterflies, but horizontally. So they completely cover the body of the pest. Color grey. But on the front wings there is a pattern consisting of contrasting oblique and transverse stripes.
The caterpillar larvae of this pest are 1-2 cm in size. Their color is greenish-yellow.They have eight pairs of legs, which allows them to move quite quickly. Mouthparts of gnawing type caterpillars. The body consists of segments separated by stripes. It is encased in a soft shell, which ensures maximum mobility.
The leaf roller may appear in the garden when purchasing an infected pear seedling.
The leaf roller may appear in the garden when purchasing an infected pear seedling.
What harm does
Female leaf rollers are characterized by high fertility. When they emerge from the pupa, they are already ready for mating on the third day. The pest lays eggs in the ovary, inflorescences, in crevices of branches, between leaves.
It is the leaf roller larvae that cause the greatest damage to the pear. As they grow, they actively feed. First, the caterpillars damage the buds, which leads to a decrease in the number of ovaries. Then the larvae move to young leaves. As a result of their vital activity, the process of photosynthesis is disrupted, and the pear lacks nutritional components. Therefore, the appearance of the leaf roller reduces the pear's resistance to disease. In mid-summer, caterpillars attack fruits, gnawing holes in them. This leads to loss of commercial and taste qualities.
With mass reproduction of the pear budworm, as can be seen in the photo, and the absence of control measures, the damage to buds and fruits is 80%, and to leaves up to 60%
Signs of defeat
The lesion can be recognized by its characteristic signs. But depending on the time of year they change.
When a leaf roller appears:
- in spring - cobwebs on buds, tops of shoots, eaten petals;
- at the beginning of summer - rolled leaves, and cocoons located between the veins;
- in July there is a silvery coating on the branches, and adult individuals begin their active years;
- in the fall there are many plates covered with cobwebs, inside of which there are overwintering pupae.
Reasons for appearance
Insufficient care of pears can provoke the appearance of this pest in the garden. As a result, the trees' immunity is reduced and they cannot resist the leaf roller.
Main reasons:
- deficiency of nutritional components;
- crown density;
- lack of preventive treatments before the beginning of the growing season and at its end;
- untimely application of nitrogen fertilizers.
Measures to combat leaf roller on pear
To get rid of leaf roller on a pear, it is necessary to use comprehensive control measures. This will provide protection to the tree throughout the growing season. The pest can be destroyed using chemical and biological preparations, folk remedies and mechanically. However, for the treatment to be effective, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for its implementation.
Chemicals against leaf roller on pear
Using insecticides, you can quickly reduce the number of adults and larvae. These drugs are sold in any specialized store. It is recommended to use them when the first signs of damage appear. But they cannot be used during flowering and fruiting.
The following drugs will help remove the leaf roller from a pear:
- Bi-58. This contact-system insecticide is recommended for spring treatment of pears against a complex of pests, including leaf rollers.As an active component, it contains dimethoate, the concentration of which is 400 g per 1 liter. Bi-58 begins to act immediately after treatment. Provides protection for three weeks. Before spraying a pear from the leaf roller, you need to dilute 10 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water.
Bi-58 is compatible with fertilizers and fungicides, except alkaline ones
- Fufanon. Insecto-acaricide, which has a wide spectrum of action. Belongs to the category of organophosphorus compounds. Contains malathion in a concentration of 570 g per 1 liter. This component paralyzes leaf roller caterpillars within two hours after treatment, and a day later they die. Before using the product, it must be diluted with water in a ratio of 10 ml per 10 liters of water.
Fufanon provides protection for 3-15 days, depending on the weather
- Chord. A pyrethroid insecticide whose active component is alpha-cypermethrin. After treatment, the drug quickly penetrates the leaves and spreads to all parts of the pear. Visible results become noticeable after three hours. after spraying. The drug is not phytotoxic if the consumption standards are observed. To combat the leaf roller on a pear, you need to dissolve 3 ml of the product in 10 liters of water.
Accord is characterized by economical consumption
Folk remedies for leaf roller on pear
If a leaf roller appears on a pear, then you can treat the tree with folk remedies. Their use is justified when the number of pests is small, as well as during fruiting, when other drugs cannot be used. But it should be taken into account that the protective layer is washed off by rain.
To treat pears against pests, it is recommended to use:
- Tomato tops. Finely chop the shoots and fill them with warm water in a ratio of 1 to 1. The mixture must be left for a day. At the end of the waiting period, it should be boiled for half an hour over low heat. After cooling, strain the solution, add 50 ml of liquid soap and dilute with water in equal proportions.
- Sagebrush. The smell of this plant is not tolerated by aphids. To spray a pear, you should finely chop the leaves and shoots of wormwood and pour warm water so that the liquid completely covers them. Leave the solution for a day, and then cook over low heat for half an hour. After cooling, strain the product, add 50 g of grated laundry soap and dilute it with water in a ratio of 1 to 2.
- Tobacco. To get rid of aphids on a pear, you need to pour 10 liters of hot water with 500 g of the component. The mixture should be left for a day, stirring occasionally. After the time has passed, strain and pour in 40 ml of liquid soap. Before processing, the resulting composition should be thoroughly mixed.
Mechanical method of fighting
The number of leaf rollers can be reduced using special traps. To do this, you need to prepare plastic bottles, cut off their necks and pour kvass, beer or fermented compote inside. Traps should be hung not only on the branches of the pear tree, but also on neighboring bushes and trees. However, they can only be used at night, otherwise during the day they will attract the attention of pollinating insects.
At the initial stage of infection, manual collection of caterpillars gives good results. This method of control is especially relevant during the flowering period, when the use of chemicals is undesirable.
Biological method
Biological agents can also be used to control pests on pear trees.They are of natural origin, therefore they have a gentle toxic effect. Biological products can be used to treat pears against leaf roller before and after flowering, as well as during the formation of the ovary. These funds are characterized by a short waiting period, but are characterized by a slow action. Visible results after spraying the tree become noticeable within 3-4 days.
The most effective biological products against leaf roller on pear:
- Fitoverm;
Fitoverm can also be used against ticks
- Acto effect;
Acto-effect is not addictive to pests
- Guapsin.
Guapsin combines the properties of a fungicide and an insecticide
Prevention
It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of a pear being damaged by a leaf roller, but by following simple preventive measures, you can minimize the risks. However, to do this you need to do them regularly.
Prevention measures:
- collect and burn fallen leaves in a timely manner;
- clean the tree trunk from peeling bark, whiten it in spring and autumn;
- carry out fertilizing taking into account the stage of tree development;
- spray newly acquired seedlings with insecticides.
Conclusion
A leaf roller can appear on a pear regardless of its age. The sooner the gardener detects the pest and takes measures to destroy it, the less damage it will cause. After all, any delay can lead to loss of harvest and massive spread of leaf rollers in the garden.
