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Carrots, like many garden crops, are susceptible to pest attack. Some insects prefer to feast on juicy tops, others prefer root crops. This leads to a slowdown in the development of seedlings, the loss of marketable qualities of carrots, a decrease in the level of keeping quality and yield. To prevent this, every gardener should know how and how to treat carrots from pests when the first signs of damage appear. This will make it possible to take timely measures for destruction and minimize the damage that insects can cause to culture.
It is impossible to completely exclude the possibility of damage to carrots by pests.
Causes of pests
Carrots are characterized by relative undemanding. However, for the full growth and development of the root crop, certain conditions are necessary. If they do not match, the immunity of the plant decreases, and the likelihood of its damage by pests increases. Also, any errors in agricultural technology can lead to this.
Provoking factors:
- sharp temperature drops;
- prolonged stagnation of moisture in the soil;
- dry air;
- lack of nutrients;
- density of landings;
- bad light;
- inconsistency in climatic conditions.
How to deal with carrot pests
Knowing the common pests of carrots and methods of dealing with them, you can count on a good harvest of root crops. But you need to take action immediately when the first warning signs appear, until the insects have had time to multiply en masse. Therefore, a photo and description of the most malicious carrot pests, as well as treatment methods, will help the gardener to recognize and eliminate the problem in a timely manner.
carrot fly
This flying pest is characterized by its small size. The length of the insect is 4-5 mm. The belly and scutellum of the fly are black, with a brilliant sheen, the head is brown, the legs are yellow, and the wings are transparent. The active years of the carrot fly (Psila rosae) begin during the flowering period of apple trees, which occurs in late April or early May. Favorable conditions for the insect are soil temperature +16-+17 °С at a depth of 5-10 cm.
At the end of May, female pests lay their eggs in the ground near the carrots. Subsequently, yellow worm-like larvae appear that feed on root crops. Signs of defeat: the tops acquire an unnatural red-violet color, passages appear on the carrots up to the core, which subsequently rot. This leads to the fact that the roots crack, acquire a bitter taste, black spots appear on the surface.
This carrot root pest re-activates at the end of summer, when a new generation of voracious larvae appears.
To destroy the insect, insecticides Pochin, Bazudin, Zemlin should be used. Regular loosening of the soil, early sowing, and timely thinning help prevent carrot damage. Also, experienced gardeners recommend planting onions in a garden bed with a root crop. To scare away a carrot fly, you can use ammonia at the rate of 50 ml per 10 liters of water. The resulting solution periodically spray the soil between rows.
With mass reproduction of flies, carrot yield losses reach 80-90%
Listobloška
This is a small flying insect of a greenish hue. Body length does not exceed 2 mm. Carrots are harmed by larvae and nymphs that feed on juice. This weakens the plant and slows down development. The psyllid is activated at the stage of germination and the growth of the first true leaves, which causes curl.
The pest overwinters on pine and wild carrots. In May, the psyllid (Psyllidae) lays eggs on root crops. You can find it on the back of the leaves. After 3-4 weeks, larvae emerge from the eggs.
To treat carrots from a pest, the following drugs should be used:
- Aktellik;
- Cytcore;
- Inta-Vir;
- Spark.
The psyllid is capable of destroying the entire crop of carrots.
garden moth
This is a flying insect of a gray-brown hue with a wingspan of up to 2 cm. The garden moth is active in late June and August. Makes oviposition in inflorescences. Subsequently, brown caterpillars 11-13 mm long appear. They feed on the leaves of the plant and weaken it.
In the process of life, the garden moth (Scrobipalpa ocellatella) forms a sticky web that entangles the affected plants. As a result, the development of carrots slows down. To combat garden moths, it is recommended to use Enterobacterin, Dendrobacillin and Lepidocid. Timely weeding of plantings of the root crop can prevent the appearance.
Garden moth affects all umbrella crops
Gall nematode
This pest is mainly distributed in the southern regions of the country. The gall nematode (Meloidogyne marioni) is a small transparent worm, the body of which is round, 2 mm long, with a dense shell. Pests prefer sandy soil, which allows them to move quickly and breathe. Gall nematodes infect the roots of carrots, on which swellings and thickenings appear. They crack and rot over time. This results in significant yield losses.
It is impossible to save the affected carrot. But it is possible to destroy pests in the garden and prevent their mass distribution with the help of Nematofagin BT, Nematorin, Bassamil preparations. The working solution should be plentifully watered the soil.
Calendula and marigolds repel root-knot nematodes
Medvedka
This is a large insect, whose body length reaches 5-6 cm. Medvedka belongs to the Orthoptera order, as well as crickets, grasshoppers, locusts.
The appearance of this pest is unusual. The belly of the bear is three times the size of the head. At the same time, at the end of the body there are two processes 1 cm long. On the head are bulging eyes, a long mustache, an oral cavity and tentacles, like a cancer. The insect has a hard shell on the chest, two pairs of limbs, and long, scaly wings. The main color of the body is dark brown.
The life cycle of the bear is 1,5-2 years, depending on the climate of the region
The pest lives underground at a depth of 10-15 cm and comes to the surface only at night. But even if you manage to see him, it is unlikely that you will be able to catch him, since he flies well, quickly digs moves and swims.
Medvedka (Gryllotalpidae) prefers to settle in areas rich in organic matter. It feeds on wireworms, earthworms, and May beetle larvae. In the course of its life activity, it causes damage to carrots, turning the roots of the plant outward, which leads to their death.
To destroy the bear in the area with carrots, chemicals should be used:
- Antimedvedka;
- Medvedox;
- Bearcide;
- Rembek;
- Phenaxin.
Eggshells also help to cope with the invasion of carrot pests in the garden. It must first be dried and then crushed. Pour a small amount of sunflower oil into the resulting mixture, mix. Lay eggshells in a thick layer when planting carrot seeds.
Wireworm
This carrot pest is the larva of the click beetle. It looks like a small yellow worm with a dense, shiny cover. The wireworm (Elateridae) lives in the soil at a depth of 5-10 cm. It feeds on the pulp of root crops, makes moves in it. This causes yellowing of the tops and a stop in the development of carrots. As a result, the crop not only loses its marketability, but the taste of the fruit deteriorates. When storing carrots affected by this pest, root crops quickly rot.
To combat the larva of the click beetle, Aktara, Etonem should be used. With the prepared working solution, you need to water the soil at the base of the carrot. It also helps to get rid of the pest and liming the soil, but within reasonable limits. Experienced gardeners recommend using toxic baits from wireworms – insecticide-treated barley, corn. They should be laid out between the rows of carrots, and also placed in the holes when planting.
The wireworm affects not only carrots, but also potatoes, beets
Naked Slugs
This pest is nocturnal, which makes it difficult to control it. Naked slugs (Limacidae) feed on root crops, leaves and inflorescences of carrots. You can recognize the lesion by the thin strip of mucus left by the pest on the ground and root crops.
To combat naked slugs, Metaldehyde, Metu, Thunderstorm should be used. The drug must be scattered between the rows of root crops. The fight against these pests of carrots should be carried out with folk remedies. Namely, sprinkle on the garden and around it with tobacco dust, sand and wood ash.
Worm-like mollusks hide in damp, dark places during the day.
Winter Scoop
This nondescript butterfly is also capable of causing significant damage to carrot plantings. Namely, its gluttonous caterpillars. Larvae eat germinating seeds, seedlings, gnaw young leaves and damage the root of the plant. The larvae of the winter cutworm (Agrotis segetum) hibernate at a depth of 25 cm and withstand frosts down to -11 °C. With the arrival of spring heat, pests move to the topsoil, and by the beginning of summer a new generation of butterflies appears, each of which is capable of breeding up to two thousand caterpillars.
To combat the pest, you need to spray the carrots and water them with the working solution of Aktara, Decis, Politrin, Fury. From folk remedies, you can use an infusion of chamomile or burdock, the smell of which repels the winter scoop. To prepare them, you need to pour 100 g of leaves and inflorescences with boiling water, leave for three hours and strain. It is necessary to treat with the agent not only the tops, but also water the soil at the base of the carrots.
Winter armyworm damages more than 140 plant species
aphid
This small green insect feeds on the juice of carrot leaves. Aphids form entire colonies, which inhibit the growth and development of the root crop. In the process of life, the pest releases a sticky sweet liquid, which is a favorable environment for the reproduction of the soot fungus.
To treat carrots from these pests, you can use:
- Fitoverm;
- You decide;
- Intavir;
- spark.
Aphids (Aphidoidea) can be controlled by spreading cloves of garlic, onion and red pepper between rows of plants.
Watering carrots from above allows you to reduce the number of aphids in the area
Rats and mice
Rodents are also capable of inflicting plantings of carrots. These pests, quenching thirst and hunger, damage roots and young leaves. To fight mice and rats, you need to use special toxic long-acting baits. They should be laid out throughout the site, updating every two weeks.
Active means:
- Rat death;
- Storm;
- ratsid;
- Nutcracker.
Rats and mice are especially active in autumn with the arrival of cold weather.
preventive measures
It is necessary to fight pests of carrots not only when they appear in the garden, but also with the help of preventive measures. But in order to achieve the desired result, they need to be carried out regularly.
Basic preventive measures:
- timely removal of weeds;
- periodic loosening of the soil;
- observance of crop rotation;
- the use of green manure;
- planting nearby marigolds, calendula, garlic, onions;
- compliance with the rules of agricultural technology;
- removal of vegetation residues;
- autumn digging of the garden bed.
Conclusion
Knowing how to treat carrots from pests, you can save the crop at the stage of growth and development. But in order to minimize the risks, it is necessary to maintain plant immunity at a high level. And for this it is necessary to limit the introduction of organic matter and nitrogen fertilizers, and carry out potash top dressing. Crop rotation should also be taken into account, otherwise all the efforts of the gardener will be wasted.
