Stages of development of the Maybug
The appearance of the larvae is very characteristic, they cannot be confused with any other pest. Adult larvae are about 3-4 cm long, the head and legs are brown, and the abdomen is curved. May beetle pests appear in spring and early summer. They take four years to reach full maturity. After that, their life does not last long: females die after 6-7 weeks, and males after 4-6 weeks after coming to the surface in spring. However, before this can happen, the cockchafer must go through four developmental stages.
The female lays up to 20 eggs in spring 15-20 cm underground. In total, females can lay up to 80 eggs before their death in June; The larvae hatch three weeks after laying eggs, develop for three years, and go through three periods of development.
The perfect insect is formed in the third year of development, usually in October. For the winter, it hides underground, so you can only see it next spring. The larva, as well as the adult individual of the May beetle, hibernates in the soil at a depth of about 1 m. This depth allows them to avoid frost.
Note! The larvae cause more damage to cultivated and ornamental plants. Action should be taken as soon as the culture shows alarming symptoms, such as yellow spots or wilting of the leaves.
May beetle larvae of the first two periods are not as harmful to crops as after the third. Initially, the worms feed on plant debris. Then they move to the roots of plants, and damage them. In the fourth or fifth year, the larvae pupate into adult beetles.
As soon as the pest leaves the wintering place, it goes to the nearest treetops and begins to eat young leaves. Deciduous trees do the most damage.
In the spring (April – May), adults leave the wintering place. A swarm of flying beetles lasts about 6 weeks. They feed on deciduous trees where they hide during the day.
In the evenings they become active, massively fly around the trees. Their favorite plants are poplars, beeches, oaks, willows, birches and fruit trees. They migrate to other areas when their food source runs out.
How to get rid of the larvae of the cockchafer?
Maybugs are one of the most dangerous enemies of every gardener. Adult beetles are dangerous because they feed on green parts, and females lay their eggs in the soil. Voracious larvae can cause significant damage to crops.
Empty spaces appear in the garden, above-ground shoots begin to turn yellow and wither. Root crops of carrots and potatoes are damaged. The fight against the larvae is difficult, but it can be won.
Note! The beetle is not dangerous to humans, will not cause harm. However, if it is seen in the garden, appropriate measures must be taken to quickly get rid of this pest.
Pests in the soil fight them. There are several ways to protect against the invasion of pests. Therefore, as soon as the presence of adults is noticed, measures must be taken as soon as possible to prevent the laying of eggs by females.
What can be done to get rid of the pest and not pollute the environment? You can get rid of beetle eggs and larvae without harming other organisms if you use ecological methods to repel and control these insects.
One of the most effective methods is deep digging. The larvae hibernate at a depth of up to 1 m. Once on the surface, they cannot hide back, and birds eat them. An ally in the fight against larvae is also a mole. It is also worth sowing buckwheat on dug up soil. It contains substances that adversely affect the development of larvae.
Fight against adult insects
Adults do much less harm than larvae. They are mostly fought to prevent them from laying eggs. May beetles are shaken off on a film laid out under the trees. This is best done in the morning when the pests are still motionless after the night. Then they are destroyed
Maybug – elimination by chemical means
It is not always possible to dig the entire area. Then it is worth turning to chemicals that completely destroy the pest. Chemical preparations are best used from mid-April to early June.
It is worth remembering the correct use of chemicals. Insecticides should not be sprayed on a sunny day, as the active substances under the influence of high temperature can lead to burns of the shoots.
In addition, they cannot be used during the day due to the activity of other beneficial insects, such as bees. Chemicals can lead to their death, which will have a direct impact on nearby crops. To avoid this, spray insecticidal preparations only in the evenings. Also, do not spray when rain is expected, because the applied products will drain into the soil and you will have to repeat the whole process from the beginning.
For larvae living in the ground, create unfavorable conditions for development. For this, for example, P-DRAKOL is well suited.
This tool creates an environment in which the larvae die off. As a result, their number is significantly reduced without harming the surrounding plants.
What plants do not like the larvae of the cockchafer
It is worth knowing which plants do not like the larvae, and use a decoction or liquid fertilizer. As an intermediate crop, it is recommended to sow buckwheat. Growing buckwheat may limit their effect. It has an adverse effect on the larvae. Since this is a heat-loving plant, it should be sown in May, after when the top layer of soil warms up to 8-10 ° C
The larvae avoid onions and mustard. From these plants, you can prepare a decoction or liquid fertilizer for spraying. By regularly watering the plants with this solution, you can get rid of the larvae in your garden. In summer, the larvae are at a depth of 10-20 cm, feeding underground, which makes it easy to remove them. However, in July and August it may be too late.
Note! One effective way to deal with larvae is to use tansy. This plant grows in meadows and fields.
The easiest way is to make fertilizer from tansy. To do this, pour 1 kg of fresh leaves into 10 liters of water. Leave for 14-20 days and stir every day. Tansy will begin to ferment, and when the suspension stops foaming and becomes transparent, it is ready. You can water them with freshly dug beds to combat the larvae living in them.
What kind of soil do larvae dislike? They do not like the soil, which is often disturbed, aerated and loosened. They also do not tolerate quickly drying, too wet or hardening soils.
