Content
- 1 What does a weevil look like on a strawberry?
- 2 Is it possible to treat strawberries for weevils?
- 3 When to treat strawberries for weevils
- 4 How to treat and how to deal with weevils on strawberries in spring, summer and autumn
- 5 How to get rid of weevils on strawberries using folk remedies
- 5.1 Treating strawberries with ammonia against weevils
- 5.2 Treatment of strawberries with boric acid against weevils
- 5.3 How to get rid of weevils on strawberries using wood ash
- 5.4 Kill weevils with mustard powder
- 5.5 How to get rid of weevils using iodine
- 5.6 Onion peels to kill weevils
- 5.7 How to get rid of weevils using garlic
- 5.8 Weevil soap solution
- 5.9 How to get rid of weevils using tobacco dust
- 5.10 Chili pepper from weevil
- 5.11 Infusion of marigolds from weevil
- 5.12 How to get rid of weevils using baking soda
- 6 Frequent mistakes and prevention of pest occurrence
- 7 Conclusion
- 8 Reviews on how to get rid of weevils on strawberries
You can fight weevils on strawberries with folk remedies, biological and chemical preparations. As a preventive measure, ordinary agrotechnical techniques are used - compliance with crop rotation, cultivation using agrofibre, thorough weeding and loosening. Preventing a pest is easier than getting rid of it. Therefore, preventive measures should be observed.
What does a weevil look like on a strawberry?
The weevil is a dangerous insect pest from a large family of beetles, uniting about 50 thousand species, distributed on all continents. Goes through 3 stages of development:
- The larvae are thick worms of a creamy, yellowish color, curved in the shape of a “c.” A characteristic feature is the presence of bristles running throughout the body. At the same time, the head is brown and hard.
- The pupa has the rudiments of legs and wings, and the body is exactly the same.
- Adult beetles are mostly up to 1 mm in length, less often up to 5 mm (visible by eye). They can be either spherical or diamond-shaped, elongated. The color is varied - from yellow and brown to red and black. It has a long trunk, from which the pest gets its name.
The main signs of the appearance of weevils on strawberries:
- numerous small (up to 2 mm) holes on sheet plates;
- drying and falling of buds;
- damage to the bases of bud petioles;
- fruits of irregular shape.
What does a weevil do to strawberries?
Insects feed on the juices and green mass of strawberries, and the larvae suck out the liquid from the roots. This takes away the strength of the plant and slows down its development. Therefore, when the first signs of damage appear, you need to get rid of pests.It is better to do this before the buds form, since females lay eggs in the flowers.
Is it possible to treat strawberries for weevils?
It is possible and necessary to treat bushes against insects. For preventive purposes, this is done in spring and autumn. In summer, spraying is carried out only when pests appear:
- before the formation of buds using folk remedies;
- during flowering with chemicals;
- during fruiting - with biological insecticides.
It is imperative to get rid of weevils on strawberries, otherwise the yield will noticeably decrease
When to treat strawberries for weevils
When planning processing, it is extremely important to adhere to deadlines. Usually this procedure is performed in two cycles - in spring and autumn. However, in case of emergency (a large invasion has appeared), spraying is done in the summer, even before the berries appear. If the fruits have already set, you should not use chemicals.
When to treat strawberries for weevils in spring
Spring treatment is carried out in the second half of April. The bed is cleaned, last year's tops are removed, the soil is loosened, and the plants are watered. After this, mulch is laid and sprayed with solutions according to folk recipes or biological preparations.
When to treat strawberries for weevils in the fall
Autumn treatment of strawberries against weevils is carried out after harvesting - there are no strict deadlines. All damaged leaves are first cut off, after which they are sprayed once with a chemical preparation or twice with a biological or folk remedy.
How to treat and how to deal with weevils on strawberries in spring, summer and autumn
To get rid of weevils on strawberries, a variety of methods are used.In the first stages (before flowering), folk remedies help; during budding, chemicals help. If the fruits have already appeared, it is better to use only biological preparations. Moreover, after processing, the berries can be collected only after 3–5 days.
Chemical preparations for weevils on strawberries
If a weevil appears on a strawberry during flowering and fruiting, it has already laid eggs. Therefore, it will not be possible to get rid of insects by simply scaring them away with folk remedies (for example, fragrant herbs). In these cases, the most effective means are used - chemical insecticides:
- "Decis";
- "Spark double effect";
- "Green Soap";
- "Fufanon";
- "Alatar";
- "Commander";
- "Medvetox".
“Decis” and other chemicals allow you to get rid of pests in 1–2 days
Biological insecticides for weevils on strawberries
You can also water strawberries against weevils with solutions based on biological preparations (insecticides and insectoacaricides):
- "Fitoverm";
- "Vertimek";
- "Akarin";
- "Iskra-bio";
- "Spinosad".
The drugs act on insects gradually, the first results are noticeable after 4–5 days. Therefore, spraying is carried out 2 times a week until the pest is completely destroyed. If the situation is not advanced, two procedures are enough to get rid of insects. The advantage of biological insecticides is the possibility of application at any stage of development, including during flowering and fruiting.
Agrotechnical control methods
Agrotechnical methods of combating weevils on strawberries involve creating the right conditions for growing the berries:
- careful digging of the bed on the eve of planting;
- regular cleaning of the field from weeds in which weevils and other pests accumulate;
- burning grass and leaves on the site.
It is not recommended to plant berries next to raspberry bushes. Periodically changing the planting site (every 3 years, it is advisable to carry out work in the fall) will help avoid the massive spread of pests.
Plants that repel weevils
Insects are repelled by the smells of fragrant plants:
- marigold;
- garlic;
- basil;
- mint;
- rosemary;
- tobacco;
- issol;
- lavender;
- lemon sage;
- tansy;
- lemon balm.
It is also possible to chop the green mass and pour the resulting pulp next to the bushes.
Setting traps
Pheromone traps against weevils contain substances that attract insects for reproduction. Such devices consist of moisture-resistant (laminated) cardboard, which is attached near the garden bed using metal wire. Inside the case there is a dispenser that releases pheromones.
Pheromone and glue traps can help get rid of insects
How to get rid of weevils on strawberries using folk remedies
Traditional methods help eliminate weevils on strawberries after several treatments. Solutions, infusions or decoctions do not act as quickly as chemicals, but they are completely safe for plants, beneficial insects and humans. They contain odorous substances that repel weevils. Therefore, it is better to carry out the treatment even before flowering (the deadline is at the moment of bud formation).
Treating strawberries with ammonia against weevils
Ammonia (ammonia solution) can be purchased at any pharmacy.The product is quite effective, so only two tablespoons are taken per bucket of water. Stir and begin weevil treatment. Since ammonia has a very pungent odor, it is better to work with a mask.
Treatment of strawberries with boric acid against weevils
Boric acid is a fairly effective and safe remedy for weevils on strawberries. It is better to get rid of the pest before flowering begins, since then the harvest may be lost. Acid is bought at a pharmacy. It is a white powder. It is enough to take 1.5–2 g per bucket of water (at the tip of a teaspoon). It is good to add 15 drops of pharmaceutical iodine and 30 drops of birch tar to the solution. Mix everything and process the strawberry plantings.
It is also an excellent means of killing aphids and ants - pests that help each other survive.
How to get rid of weevils on strawberries using wood ash
Wood ash is a universal remedy for getting rid of weevils and other insects on strawberries. It is a source of valuable mineral compounds, including phosphorus and potassium. To kill beetles, you need to scatter the powder directly over the surface of the bed, and also generously powder the bushes. Treatment of strawberries against weevils with wood ash is carried out during the formation of buds, as well as after harvesting (as a preventive measure).
Wood ash helps get rid of insects in 4-5 days
Kill weevils with mustard powder
You can eliminate weevils using powdered mustard. It is bought at the pharmacy and dissolved in water in an amount of 100 g per 3 liters or 330 g per standard bucket. It is better to dissolve it in a warm, but not hot liquid, then mix thoroughly and start spraying the strawberries against the weevil.
How to get rid of weevils using iodine
If weevils appear on strawberries, it is recommended to treat the bushes with an alcohol solution of iodine, which can be bought at a pharmacy. To do this, add two teaspoons of the substance to 10 liters of water, stir thoroughly and begin spraying.
Onion peels to kill weevils
Another universal, proven remedy is onion peel. Cleanings are taken in arbitrary quantities, for example, 100 g per 1 liter of hot water. Leave for a day and filter. If possible, you can immediately add 50 g of crushed celandine. It is also used as a separate remedy.
How to get rid of weevils using garlic
Both cloves and green arrows of garlic are suitable for killing insects. They are thoroughly crushed and 100 g of the mixture is poured into 10 liters of water, left for 24 hours. You can prepare it according to another recipe (for autumn processing) - dry the garlic arrows in advance, chop them, take 100 and also add a bucket of water at room temperature.
Weevil soap solution
To get rid of the pest, you can use an infusion of laundry soap (preferably 72%) or tar soap.It is crushed using a coarse grater, taking a heaping teaspoon of shavings for each liter of water. Heat a little (but do not bring it to a hot state), stir and leave for a day. Pour into a spray bottle and begin the procedure.
It is added to any other solutions. Then the active ingredients will stay on the surface of the leaves and stems longer, even in rainy and windy weather.
How to get rid of weevils using tobacco dust
The tobacco plant is often planted next to strawberries and other crops. It is also used in the form of dust, which is taken in the amount of 2 glasses (400 ml in total) and dissolved in a bucket of hot, but not boiling water for 3 days. Stir, filter and start working.
Tobacco dust helps eliminate pests
Chili pepper from weevil
A good poison to get rid of weevils on strawberries is chili pepper. It contains capsaicin and other “burning” substances that destroy pests. To work, you need to take only the pods, peel them from the seeds and cut them into small pieces (it’s better to make a powder). Take 100 g and pour 1 liter of water at room temperature, then filter and bring the total volume to 10 liters.
Infusion of marigolds from weevil
Marigolds, which help get rid of the pest, grow in almost every garden. After flowering has finished, you can cut off the petals and green part, chop them and fill them with warm, but not hot water (10 liters per 300–400 g). You need to wait 3 days. You can also pour boiling water over it, then let it cool and leave for several days.
How to get rid of weevils using baking soda
Even baking soda will help get rid of the weevil, especially in the early stages of its appearance. A tablespoon of powder is poured into 1 liter of water (accordingly, 10 tablespoons are required per bucket), mix and get to work.
Frequent mistakes and prevention of pest occurrence
Getting rid of the pest is extremely important, since it can cause significant damage, leading to deformation of the fruit and significant loss of yield.
One of the common mistakes is related to violation of deadlines - summer residents strive to use folk remedies without resorting to chemicals. But if you treat strawberries against weevils during flowering, there will be no effect, since the pests will already have time to lay eggs in the flowers. In this case, you will still have to use special drugs.
Plants are treated in the early morning or late evening or during the day in cloudy weather. Otherwise, the bright rays of the sun will burn the leaves and stems. Also, do not spray in strong winds or rain.
In the case of using chemical and even biological preparations, the crop can be harvested only after the waiting period has expired - usually at least 3-5 days.
It is extremely important to follow preventive measures to prevent pests from invading (getting rid of them is more difficult than preventing them). To do this, the fragrant plants listed above are planted next to the plantings.Berries are grown using black agrofibre, the soil is constantly loosened and the ground is mulched (sawdust, peat, pine needles can be used).
Marigolds and other aromatic plants can also help get rid of bugs
Conclusion
Fighting weevils on strawberries is not so difficult, especially if you use proven and effective means. They should not be used uncontrollably, but according to a schedule. At the same time, it is better not to abuse chemicals. They help quickly get rid of the pest, but they should be used no more than twice a season.
Reviews on how to get rid of weevils on strawberries
