How to get rid of the larva of the May bug? Practical tips for gardeners

Each of us in our childhood was happy, if we found the May bug. It was interesting to watch him or put him in a matchbox, but we did not even suspect that this bug is a dangerous pest of the garden and garden. Special damage is brought to the gardeners by the larva of the May beetle. Strawberry is their most favorite plant that they destroy. The tender roots of the bush attract them most. So who is it, the May bug, and how to get rid of the larva of the May bug?

Beetles and larvae

The May beetle received its name because of its peculiarity to appear in May. Only with the onset of heat, you can see the activity of these beetles, which is associated with the appearance of the first leaves of oak and birch. In the afternoon they are located on the branches of trees and fly out only after sunset, filling the evening air with their buzzing. More often it is possible to meet some individuals, but also not an exception, when whole garlands of beetles at the same time eat leaves. Such flocks can completely bare the tree. Discover their presence can be on stun leaves under the tree and feces bugs.

Winter beetles and their larvae can easily survive in the soil, so do not expect that they will die in the cold. After mating, the female beetle buries into a loose chernozem to 10-20 cm deep and there it usually lays 50-60 eggs. After 4-6 weeks, larvae appear. These are the same larvae, which then in three to four years will in every way harm your garden.

Methods of pest control

How to get rid of the larva of the May bug if they hide deep in the ground? The first thing to do is to determine if there is a larva on this site. To learn this is quite simple. The strong jaws of the larva are able to gnaw even the roots of the trees, so if you find a wilted plant for no apparent reason, then it is worth checking the ground.

To do this, plentifully pour the land around the bush, for example strawberries, and gently dig it out. Carelessly, shaking the ground from the roots, look through the soil, since you can manually get rid of the larva of the May bug. If a pest is found, destroy it, and plant the plant back.

The second important rule - when digging up the garden, be careful, and if you find the larvae, collect them and destroy them. Similarly, if you plan to fertilize the garden with humus or deciduous compost, this will reduce the likelihood of larvae entering the ground.

Preventive measures are effective ways of how to get rid of the larva of the May beetle. To prevent the laying of eggs by the female and timely prevent the appearance of larvae, it is enough to water the trees and shrubs with a dilute solution of ammonia: 10-15 g per 10 liters of water.

Another way is before planting plants, three to four days before disembarkation, to water the ground with a composition: 10 drops of iodine per 10 liters of water.

In childhood we were attracted by the May beetle with its fluffy legs and a bright, smooth shell, but not the larva of the May beetle - the photo on the left disgusts and disgusts even the most hardy people.