Sunday, August 15, 2010

Japanese beetles



The Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica Newman) is a highly destructive plant pest native to Japan as the name suggests. It is not considered a serious pest in Japan where its natural predators keep populations in check. However it is rampant in the United States where infestations are regularly reported. Strict regulations and pest management strategies have prevented the establishment of the Japanese beetle in other parts of the country.

The adult Japanese beetle is approximately Ѕ an inch long, it has an iridescent metallic green body and copper colored outer wings. Japanese beetles are harmful pests in the larval and adult stages. Adults feed on the foliage and fruits of several hundred species of plants and are a serious threat to American agriculture. The adults consume the leaf material between the veins and leaving large holes in leaves The grubs or larva develop in the soil and feed on the roots of various plants and grasses causing damage to turf on lawns, parks and golf courses.

There is no quick way of getting rid of the Japanese beetle once it is established. However there are chemical, biological and cultural methods that can be employed to manage these pests. The concept of integrated pest management has proven to be a useful, efficient and environmentally sound method of pest control. This method aims to manage pests and not eradicate them as it is realized that control methods may also harm potentially beneficial organisms in the environment. In addition eliminating the pest can cause disruptions in the food web of an ecosystem and can damage the ecosystem.

To control the Japanese beetle a rough estimate of the beetle population should be obtained. This can be done by using mechanical traps for adult beetles which attract adult beetles using a combination of pheromones and floral lures. As a result of their clumsy flying and the design of the trap the beetles are captured by the trap. If beetles fill the trap within a day or so, treatment will be necessary. A random sampling technique can be used to estimate beetle grub populations. A one square foot quadrant can be placed at random locations on the lawn and soil should be dug from these locations using a shovel. Turn the sod over a newspaper and count the number of white grubs visible. If the grub density is over 10 per square foot treatment will be required.

Chemical control methods can be used to manage Japanese beetles however the risks and benefits of the pesticide must be determined prior to using it. Correct timing and application are also essential for successful control. It is important to read and follow the directions and safety precautions when using chemicals. However the use of these chemicals is not encouraged due to the potential environmental threat they pose.

Biological control agents such as parasites, nematodes and fungi can be used to control Japanese beetle populations. Some of these control agents are commercially available and though they take longer to produce the same results as insecticides biological control agents last longer in the environment and have no adverse effect on the environment.

Cultural methods such as habitat manipulation can also be employed to suppress Japanese beetle populations. This includes planting resistant plant species and removing the more susceptible ones. Diseased and malnourished plants are susceptible to attack by beetles. Therefore plants and crops should be kept healthy. Also prematurely ripened fruit should be picked off plants as the odor tends to attract Japanese beetles. Homeowners and cultivators should have a well dispersed variety of plants that favors beetle resistant plant species in order to reduce the level of damage.

It is important to note that these methods do not completely eliminate the Japanese beetle but will keep populations under control and minimize the damage they inflict. People should also be aware of the pest control methods they use and be aware with the costs and risks associated with them. Community efforts such as cooperative pest management programs can go a long way in suppressing Japanese beetle attacks.

Aphid Spray



Life is not a bed of roses….. Even in favor of roses! Near are many diseases and insects with the aim of can injury roses. Aphids are lone of the biggest threats with the aim of roses contain. However, you contain nothing to fear with reference to. Using aphid spray would enable you to get a hold relieve of all folks minute troublesome creatures.



Roses are not the lone plants on these insects’ bang incline. Vegetables, fruits and various plants of various types may well extend under an ‘aphid attack.’ If you require to cause all right with the aim of your plot looks high-quality all the era, arm by hand with a high-quality aphid spray. You can bad buy many such sprays but it’s not all with the aim of rigorously to cause these types of sprays by hand. You can get a hold all the guidance with the aim of you need to cause an aphid spray, from the internet.



Near are various types of aphids. Depending on the type, the methods with the aim of you ought to utilize to get a hold relieve of these insects may well vary, by smallest amount to some extent. Generally however, you can utilize in the least commonly used aphid spray to get a hold relieve of in the least type of these difficult insects. Don’t think with the aim of aphids aren’t by all practical to the ecosystem. Near are many other insects with the aim of prey on aphids so these insects sport an crucial role in the sphere of sustaining the food sequence.



Every now and then you might not even contain to utilize an aphid spray though aphids might remain existing in the sphere of your plot. If these insects are existing in the sphere of trivial records it won’t remain a serious drawback. However, an aphid population can encourage pretty quickly so it’s better to utilize various sort of aphid spray if you make sure in the least aphids on in the least of your plants.



Complete you know why these insects are loathed so much? Make somewhere your home hate aphids in favor of abundance of reasons. The sap of various dissimilar plants makes up a substantial part of the diet of an be more or less aphid. This reduces the rate of growth and often has a bad effect on the emergence of the fix in the sphere of question. If you don’t utilize aphid spray by the correct era, your fix might conclusion up looking like lone which was missing in the sphere of the desert. Various viruses are in addition transmitted into plants by these insects. This may well by a long way cause the destruction of such plants.



In the past few minutes using in the least aphid spray, anyway you require, might not to complete the appointment in favor of you. You have to remain well thought-out with the aim of in the least aphid spray with the aim of you utilize doesn’t contain a bad effect on the fix in the sphere of question. Making such a spray is very painless and you can utilize things like soap and citrus.



You might not know with the aim of you can in point of fact cause quite valuable aphid spray, using lone dishwasher soap and vegetable lubricate. Mix this with irrigate and you preference get a hold your spray. Cause all right with the aim of you spray on the affected areas of in the least plants repeatedly. Utilize all on the cards methods to advance creatures with the aim of feed on aphids to visit your plot. Such methods composed with an valuable aphid spray may well remain the largest part valuable.

Ant Pest Control



It is always annoying when you want to get a bite of your favorite food, only to find that ants have got to your food before you. Ants might eat anything from meat to sweets so these little insects are rarely welcome in any kitchen. Many people resort to ant pest control in order to make sure that ants are kept out of their homes.

Most types of ants are extremely small in size. This allows them to get in to your homes through the smallest of cracks or openings. Ant pest control is not quite easy due to this reason. You must make sure that you keep your food in containers that can be properly closed. You must also remove the small pieces of food lying around the house. Ant pest control is all about making sure that ants have nothing to eat inside your house. This will keep the ants out.

There are hundreds of ant pest control methods and products. These products and methods could change slightly, depending of type of ant in question. You might already know that there are various types of ants. Fire ants, argentine ants, thief ants, carpenter ants and pharaoh ants are some of the well known ones. Professional ant pest control should start with identification of the type of ants in question. Some methods would work with most types of ants.

Natural ant pest control is the most environmentally friendly method. If it’s possible, get rid of these bothersome ants using products that are non-toxic. Boric acid, chalk and pepper can be used to make sure that ants don’t get to your food. Try to make sure that you concentrate on ant pest control and not on eliminating ants altogether. Ants are very important to the environment around you. They attack and help to keep the numbers of other insects under control and help in the natural recycling process.

Ant pest control through toxic products such as sprays is not a very good idea. These products don’t just affect the environment. They would affect you and if you have small children you should try to minimize using these sprays within your home. Ant pest control should be done in an organized and well thought out manner.

Find out the small openings used by ants to enter your house. Close all these openings and you should also take care to wipe out the trails. Ants use ‘scent trails’ so whenever you see a trail, mop the area using Lysol or soap water. Keeping your house clean is also an important factor in ant pest control. Place sticky substances around the table legs of your dining table.

Usually, you can take care of ant pest control on your own. However, in some cases, especially in cases where ants like carpenter ants are involved, you should think about getting professional help. These ants attack wooden structures so they could be very harmful.

Organic Pesticides



A pesticide refers to a single substance before a combination thereof, which is used to prevent, control before finish pests. The pests with the purpose of are consequently being controlled, repelled before destroyed give somebody no option but to up a vast and varied make an inventory with the purpose of includes insects to plants and microbes. The agent used on behalf of this reason can be there a purely element, a mix of chemicals and organic stuff before purely organic. Set the sharp awareness on pollution, healthiness factors and sustainable agricultural processes, organic pesticides are a preferred method of fighting pests. What’s new organic pesticides can be there made from a ample variety of ingredients and can even be there made suitable next to back home. However you be obliged to too consider the magnitude of avail yourself of. On behalf of illustration pardon? You avail yourself of, somewhere you source it from and how you avail yourself of it long for vary with the quantity you are looking next to. Work level requirement on behalf of organic pesticides long for consequently fail to agree from the requirement of back home avail yourself of.



A number of vital organic pesticides include insecticidal soap. This is ideal on behalf of plants with the purpose of are under attack by pests such in the role of soft bodied insects. Universal soap detergents sundry with hose down be supposed to make the trick though you be obliged to take bother to avail yourself of it in prematurely mornings before evenings what time the sunlight long for not burn the plants. Nicotine is a different well common and widely used form of organic pesticide. To avail yourself of it, you be obliged to firstly mix it with hose down and followed by spray it on top of the affected hide. It is especially in force beside leaf hoppers, aphids in the role of well in the role of sallow flies. It is too quite a safe organic pesticide, consequence you can even spray it on your fruits and vegetables.



Pyrethrum, too common in the role of insect powder is yet a different safe organic pesticide with the purpose of can be there used on fruits and vegetables and is made using the chrysanthemum hide. It kills the majority insects on make contact with. Garlic is yet a different intoxicating ingredient. Try wringing wet around three to four ounces of garlic, marvelously chopped, dressed in a not much fragment of granite grease. Too add a fragment of fish suspension to a bucket of hose down and mix it all to show your face up with a safe and in force drink with the purpose of is bound to progress free of a variety of pests.



You can certainly get a host of types of in force organic pesticides analogous to the exceeding. But in the role of mentioned these are new on behalf of back home avail yourself of dressed in tiny quantities. If however you are looking next to superior magnitude avail yourself of followed by you might own to look next to huge magnitude manufacturing of organic pesticides. This long for of path mean new expenses and securing new new supplies on behalf of the manufacture of same. Huge quantities too call on behalf of safer practices and manufacturing processes, even though the ingredients are organic. Not considering of the tradition before quantity, the very detail with the purpose of you are in view of organic pesticides speaks volumes of your job towards the planet and its well being.