How to deal with stem gall midge on raspberries, folk methods and chemicals
People who grow raspberries often encounter stem gall midge. This is a dangerous insect that can lead to the death of seedlings, and therefore you must immediately get rid of it. However, before that, you have to figure out how to deal with the stem gall midge on raspberries.
Description of the pest
First you need to familiarize yourself with the detailed description and distinctive features of the pest.
Appearance
The main feature of the gall midge is considered to be its unremarkable appearance, which makes it difficult to notice. Outwardly, the pest resembles a small mosquito, the length of which does not exceed five millimeters. The insect's invisibility is due to its small size and transparent wings. The gall midge is colored grayish with a slight brown tint. The length of small individuals is 1-2 millimeters, so it is almost impossible to detect them in a timely manner on raspberry seedlings.
Reproduction
The breeding process of such pests has features that are recommended to be familiarized with in advance. During breeding, adult females begin to lay eggs, the surface of which is green with a light green tint. Most often, eggs are laid under the bark of the stems, in places of mechanical damage. Over time, larvae emerge from the eggs, which turn orange as they mature. The length of such larvae reaches two millimeters. Young individuals develop and winter under the bark.
What is dangerous stem gall midge for raspberries
Some people are not even aware of the serious danger that gall midges pose to young raspberry seedlings. The most dangerous are the larvae that live inside the stem. They feed on plant sap, which is why the shoots slow down development. If there are too many larvae, the affected branch begins to dry out and die.
It is necessary to get rid of the larvae in a timely manner, since they can destroy the shoot or even a whole bush within 2-3 months.
Causes of occurrence
To prevent the appearance of gall midges, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the causes of their occurrence. These include the following:
- the use of a large amount of nitrogen dressings, due to which the bark on the stems begins to flake off;
- poor quality thinning of plantings, due to which they begin to weaken;
- poor ventilation, leading to an increase in moisture levels and the development of gall midges.
Signs of appearance
In order to timely detect a stem gall midge, one must familiarize oneself with the main signs of its manifestation. The first sign that a seedling is affected by a pest is the galls under the surface of the bark. More than five larvae develop in one such stalk. They grow there until the end of autumn, after which they move along the stem to the root system.
Drying of the shoots is considered another sign of the appearance of pests. At first they begin to turn yellow, but over time, the stems dry out.
How to deal with a pest?
If gall midge was seen on raspberries, you must immediately begin to fight with it.
Chemicals
Most often, the fight against the pest is carried out using special chemicals.
Insecticide "Iskra"
Often, when spraying raspberry bushes, they use the Iskra insecticide. This product is produced and sold in the form of tablets, which must be mixed with water before use. To protect the seedlings from pests, one and a half liters of the mixture is consumed for every ten square meters. When using Iskra, it is not necessary to use gloves, as the composition is non-toxic.
"Karbofos"
"Karbofos" is considered an old and proven remedy for fighting dangerous insects. This remedy is effective and therefore it is even used to kill bed bugs. The disadvantages of "Karbofos" include its toxicity, due to which the treatment is carried out in protective equipment. Spraying is carried out no more than once a season.
Non-systemic organophosphorus insectoacaricide "Actellik"
This is a drug that has an intestinal action. It is used to protect garden and horticultural crops from dangerous insects. Among the advantages of the product are its effectiveness, duration of protective action and low level of toxicity. You should use "Aktellik" no more than once a month.
Folk ways
There are three effective folk remedies that can be used while fighting insects:
- Tansy tincture. To prepare the product, 400 grams of the plant are poured with 5-6 liters of boiling water. Then everyone insists for 2-3 days, filter and stir with 9-10 liters of water.
- Urea. When creating a mixture for treating shrubs, 10 milliliters of urea and 10 liters of water are mixed.
- Garlic infusion. Half a kilogram of garlic heads are chopped in a meat grinder, poured with water and infused for a week. Then the mixture is strained and used for spraying.
Prevention measures
To protect the planted raspberry bushes from pests and diseases, it is necessary to regularly spray them with Bordeaux mixture.
Also, experts recommend regularly sprinkling the seedlings with fungicidal compounds that scare away and destroy pests.
Conclusion
Gardeners who grow raspberry bushes on the site often struggle with gall midges. To get rid of such insects, you need to familiarize yourself with their features and effective means of control.
