What is the danger of a bug turtle on tomatoes: control measures for effective and quick disposal of the pest
All bugs are divided into two types: blood-sucking and plant-based bugs. The former are harmful to health, dangerous for mammals and humans. The second type brings significant harm to agriculture.
In this article, we will figure out how to recognize pests, and also consider effective measures to combat them.
The content of the article
Bedbug harmful turtle - phases of development and where it occurs
The main area is the steppe zone, forest-steppe... The bug is widespread in the steppes of Ukraine, Russia, Bulgaria, Romania and Greece. Also found in North America and Asia.
The insect leads a parasitic lifestyle on cereals, but can also eat other types of plants. Although the vegetable garden is not its main habitat, the turtle bug is also found on tomatoes, causing significant damage to the plant.
The life cycle of a harmful turtle lasts about twelve months.... Only adults (adults) can survive the winter period. After awakening, their main task is to find a place to breed and live. The mating season begins in the spring. Having settled in the fields, the females begin to lay eggs. This happens two weeks after moving from hibernation places.
The egg development period lasts from one to three weeks.... Its duration depends on the air temperature. Ripe eggs turn into larvae. Further, during the spirit of months, an adult individual is formed from the larva. During this time, the larva goes through five stages of development, during which it feeds on the milk shoots of wheat.
Adults overwinter in the forest, where they migrate after the autumn harvest... In the spring, when the temperature reaches 15 degrees, the development cycle is repeated.
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What a bug looks like a harmful turtle
The adult has a wide oval shape... The length ranges from 10-14 mm, the width is 6 mm. Different color: from light brown to black. The body of the insect is protected by a chitinous shell, framed by spots of various shapes and colors. Due to its specific color, it got the name - turtle.
The insect belongs to the order of hemiptera, capable of flying... However, in order to fly, high energy costs are needed, so the bug prefers to crawl.
What is harmful an insect and how to detect it
The main harm caused by the bug to crops... Dwelling in fields with wheat, rye and barley, it destroys a large amount of crops. It does not matter at what stage of development the bug is. In the larval state, it damages young shoots, and in the adult stage it feeds on grain.
Digging into the grain, a mature bug releases a special enzymedue to which the grain structure changes. After the content of the grain has changed into a liquid state, the insect absorbs it. Therefore, you need to know how to deal with a pest.
Important. Even if the bug-turtle did not eat the crop, but only released an enzyme into the grain, the product becomes unusable, since the gluten content in it is reduced.
To identify the number of dangerous pests in the fields, check the plant at all stages of its growth:
- the escape;
- bloom;
- milk ripeness;
- harvesting.
The most effective period for treating crops from bedbugs - milk ripeness.
Features of appearance and lifestyle
All bugs are similar to each other. The pest can be distinguished only at the stage of development of the imago.... The edges of the bug's back and head are rounded. In other species, they are either concave or straight. Eggs and larvae are identical with other types of bed bugs.
Bed bugs hibernate in fallen leaves... Awakening occurs at a temperature of 14 degrees. Females of the insect lay eggs on the underside of the leaf in an amount of up to forty eggs.
Natural decline in the number of turtles
There are a huge number of insects in the environment, contributing to the decrease in the number of bedbugs. The most common:
- hedgehogs;
- telenomuses;
- ants;
- centipedes;
- predatory mites.
The listed insects affect bedbugs at different stages of its development.... Some destroy eggs (telenomuses), others parasitize directly on the insect and feed on it (hedgehogs).
All of them are indispensable helpers in the fight against pests., and a decrease in their population leads to active reproduction and distribution of bugs-turtles.
How to deal with a bunch of bugs on tomatoes
The pest on horticultural crops is extremely rare., and when the bug parasitizes on tomatoes in a small amount, the damage to the crop is invisible. More often than not, gardeners see no cause for concern.
But with a sharp wilting of tomatoes, you need to know how to deal with the pest... In case of manifestations in the garden bed of bugs in large quantities, urgently take action.
Chemistry against pests
The main chemicals for combating bug bugs:
- "Aktara"... The drug is of intestinal action, after eating the treated plant, the bug will live no more than a day.
- "Karbofos"... Intestinal poison, which disrupts digestion and metabolic processes, as a result, the insect dies.
- Chlorophos... A pesticide, a toxic chemical, disrupts the transmission of impulses and suppresses the activity of parasites.
When performing any type of plant processing, take into account the weather conditions... Do not plan processing if rain is forecast. The water will wash away the preparations and you will not be able to achieve the desired result.
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Traditional methods
Seen in the garden insect pests will disappear thanks to simple recipes:
- Pour 400 g of onion husks into 6 liters of water heated to 100 degrees. Insist for seven days, then process the tomatoes.
- Dilute 200 g of dry mustard powder in 800 ml of water. Pour the resulting mixture into 10 liters of cool water, process the young plant.
- Dissolve 4 tsp garlic powder in 1000 ml of water. Process tomato leaves with a solution.
All traditional methods are designed to repel insects.: they will not die, but they also cannot harm the plant, destroy the crop.
Tomato processing rules
Chemicals do well with pests, but they are toxic... Before deciding how and what to process tomatoes, it is important to understand that only by clearly following the instructions on the packaging you will achieve the result.
Important! The bug develops immunity over time. In the future, to destroy it, you will need a large dose of a chemical that is harmful to the culture. Therefore, use different drugs.
How to get rid of a bad bug quickly
The maximum effect in the fight against pests is provided by treatment in several stages... The first treatment is aimed at the extermination of adults (adults) that have returned to the fields after hibernation. The second one destroys larvae and eggs, and should coincide with the development of young ears.
Prevention of bedbugs
To prevent losses harvest and significant reproduction of bedbugs on tomatoes such preventive measures should be taken:
- enrich the soil with calcium and phosphorus;
- harvest in a timely manner;
- regularly treat areas from weeds;
- plant plants that repel pests - for example, cimicifuga;
- walk chickens in the garden, as they feed on bugs.
Conclusion
The bug is a harmful turtle - not the main enemy of tomatoes, but you should not lose your vigilance. With a decrease in the number of natural enemies of this species, the damage done to the crop will be enormous. Particular attention should be paid to the number of pests on the site during a hot, low wind summer period, favorable for the development of the bug.
If you notice insects in your area, take preventive measures immediately. They do not require large financial and energy costs, but they are highly efficient.