Beetles

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Why Beetles are not saving for plants

Introduction of beetles:

Beetles are insects of the group Coleoptera, which is part of the superorder Endopterygota. Their front pair of wings is formed into wing-cases, known as elytra, which distinguishes them from most other insects that prey on coveted shrubs, flowers, ornamental trees, and foliage plants. Knowing how to recognize these insect pests and their life cycles is essential for prevention and management. These insects spend their first year as white grubs beneath the earth. June beetle grubs, or immature June bugs, eat grassroots. These grubs develop from eggs deposited in soil with turf grasses or weeds in late spring or early summer. The grubs beetle causes tree damage by devouring the leaves. Numerous beetle species cause harm to flowers and garden crops in both their larval and adult phases. They accomplish this by consuming plant leaves, stalks, blossoms, and plant roots on occasion.

Damage caused by beetles:

All kinds of beetles cause similar damage.

 

Adult beetles are the most damaging since they eat on the leaves and stems. They leave deep pits and tiny rounded, irregular holes in the leaves (typically less than 1/8th inch). Flea beetles are the only insects that can cause this sort of harm.

Plants grown from seeds are less tolerant to feeding damage than transplants, although both can be seriously harmed if flea beetle populations are great.

The larvae generally cause little to no damage to the plants (except potato flea beetle larvae).

Types of grounds beetles:

There are some most commonly known types of beetles;

  • Ten-Lined June Beetle, (Polyphylla Decemlineata)
  • Hercules Beetles, (Genus Dynastes)
  • Grapevine Beetle, (Pelidnota punctata)
  • Ground Beetles (Subfamily Carabinae)
  • Crucifer flea beetle (Phyllotreta Cruciferae)
  • Pumpkin beetles – Banded (Aulacophora hilaris)
  • Striped flea beetle ( striolata)

How to protect your plants from beetles:

Spring is the most dangerous season for beetles. It is critical to keep an eye out for their activities as soon as seedlings appear.

  • Set up yellow sticky traps in your garden to detect flea beetles.
  • Examine your plants for flea beetles and the harm they do.
  • Treat seedlings when there are more than five flea beetles per plant to prevent serious harm to your plants.
  • Shield your crops if 10-30% of the leaves on seedlings and transplants have fallen off.

It is not usually essential to treat beetles throughout the summer, especially after the season. By July, crops have reached the 4- or 5-leaf stage and are robust enough to withstand feeding damage. At that time, the number of mature flea beetles decreases as well. Cole crops (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) and other plants with edible greens may be harmed later in the summer. Keep an eye on them and treat them as necessary.

Make your garden unappealing to pests:

Keep weeds under control in and around planting areas to reduce food supplies for flea beetles. Remove old agricultural waste so that beetles do not have a place to hide throughout the winter. Plant crops as late in the season as allowed. Plants grow quicker in higher temperatures and are more resistant to flea beetle damage.

Keep beetles out of the vegetable crop:

Use row covers or other screening to keep beetles out when the seedlings are growing. Remove row covers before the flowers come up so pollinating insects can reach the plants. Plant a highly-favored crop, such as radish, as a trap crop, before you plant

Natural enemies can control beetles:

Microctonus vittatae is a braconid wasp that lives in the United States (found more commonly in the eastern half of the U.S). This wasp kills the adult flea beetle. This wasp’s larvae grow on the female flea beetle, preventing the insect from reproducing.

Chemical control:

Several licensed pesticides can be used to control one or more species of these beetles. Infestations of Asiatic garden beetles are difficult to eradicate, especially in years when populations are plentiful. Apply pesticides no more frequently than recommended on the label. Many gardeners have discovered that dusting or spraying for these pests is ineffective. Pesticides that are widely accessible in shops and are sold as garden pesticides include:

  • Lambda cyhalothrin
  • Cyfluthrin
  • pyrethrins/pyrethrum
  • Spinosad
  • Carbaryl
  • Malathion
  • Permethrin