Strawberry leaf beetle: causes and control measures

Strawberries are considered by many to be a tasty and healthy berry, therefore they are grown on their plots. In the warm season, the berry bush lurks danger in the form of various harmful insects and parasites. Strawberry leaf beetle is the insect that loves to eat garden plants, while causing harm to strawberries.

Strawberry leaf beetle is a fairly common parasite that destroys not only strawberry plantings in home gardens, but also wild berry. Mature beetles reach a length of up to 0.04 cm, they have a brownish-yellow color and a black abdomen. Insect eggs are ball-shaped and 0.6 millimeters in size; they are laid by females. Each female insect is able to lay up to two hundred eggs. Larvae of leaf beetles are yellow-brown in color with a size of 0.05 cm.

Newborn insects scletill foliage, and later pupate. The little body of the larvae is covered with dark stripes and warts. Wintering occurs only in mature individuals. They can be recognized by black legs and the head of the same color. Often the larvae find shelter under the leaves, which have fallen in the fall. In the spring, they fly and actively feed. The location of the larvae is concentrated on the back side of the foliage.

If the strawberry parasite multiplies massively, then it entails the infection of the entire berry plantation, which subsequently dies. Each gardener will be able to recognize the attack of the strawberry leaf beetle on the plant on the basis of such features as:

• a huge number of holes in the leaves;
• the presence of faded and yellow foliage;
• poorly developed and small fruits;
• change the taste of the berries.

This pest actively eats leaf pulp throughout the entire period of its growing season. The most active activity of strawberry mite is manifested during the flowering and maturation of the plant. Juicy foliage is eaten by both young and adults of the parasite. After identifying the insect, it is necessary to take control measures that will save the crop.

With strawberry leaf beetle can be controlled proven folk remedies. It is considered effective to conduct alternately spraying with decoctions of herbs of wormwood, dandelion, garlic. Soap chips in these solutions will only enhance the effect of insect extermination. The aisle can be sprinkled with tobacco dust or wood ash. A good effect is observed after spraying with a solution based on ash and soap.

In springtime, when young foliage grows on a berry bush, it is necessary to spray strawberries with chemical or biological preparations. If the need arises and the number of insects on the strawberries increases, it is possible to re-sprinkle during the period before the plant blooms or after picking the berries. It is worth paying attention to the following effective chemicals for spraying:

• "Malathion" used in dissolved form, it requires twenty-five grams of the drug diluted in ten liters of water;
• "Actellic" It should be dissolved in water, a bucket of water will need twenty grams of the substance; this preparation is used for spraying in calm weather and without precipitation;
• "Bankol" - it is an insecticide that has the appearance of a wettable powder;
• "Decis" - This is an insecticide based on deltamethrin, one gram of the substance is diluted with ten liters of water.

Proper agricultural technology will protect the strawberry plantings from leaf beetles. In order to get a good and healthy harvest in the autumn, you need to dig deep the earth, and in the spring to harrow it. An obligatory procedure is the disposal of plant residues after the harvest has been gathered. Weeds must be destroyed in a timely manner during the growth and ripening of berries. In June, it is advisable to loosen the soil to a depth of fifteen centimeters.

Gardeners recommend to collect the larvae and adults of strawberry leaf beetle by hand. A good effect is provided by flushing the insect with a powerful water jet from under the hose. And also the parasite is afraid of watering with a soap solution from a watering can. Strawberry leaf beetle is a small and poorly noticeable bug, which can cause enormous harm to strawberries. In order to get rid of its adults and larvae, there are many effective ways. The main thing is to detect the pest in time and not be lazy to carry out preventive measures of protection.

For diseases and pests of strawberries, see below.