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In nature, there are 110 species of bears, but in gardens and orchards only 2 species harm properly: in the middle lane – common bear (Gryllotalpa gryllotalpa), and in the Far East – far eastern bear (Gryllotalpa the digger).
What is a bear
The common bear is a large insect up to 5 cm long from the Medvedok family. It belongs to the order Orthoptera and its relatives are grasshoppers, locusts and crickets. This pest is painted dark brown and looks a bit like a bear – hence, in fact, the name. But her front paws are modified and somewhat similar to molehills – they are very convenient to dig the soil. And her hind legs are small, so the bear, unlike her fellow grasshoppers and crickets, cannot jump.
But she can fly. The truth does this very rarely, because it needs very warm air to fly. In cool weather, the wing muscles do not have enough strength to provide flapping. However, if necessary, it can make long flights (1).
Interesting facts about the bear
| What regions does it live in | Commonwealth Bear – throughout Europe (except Norway), in the European part of Our Country (except for the northern and northeastern regions), in the Transcaucasus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, North Africa Medvedka Far Eastern – in Japan, China, Southeast Asia, Africa, Australia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyzstan, and in Our Country – in the Amur and in the south of the Sakhalin regions, on about. Kunashir, in the Primorsky and Ussuri Territories, as well as in the Urals |
| What crops are harmed | Everyone without exception: vegetable, flower, field, fruit trees and berry bushes |
| What feeds on | Plant roots, but prefers juicy root crops, and also eats earthworms and insects |
| How many eggs does a female lay | 360 and more |
| How many generations are born per season | 1 generation, and the full development cycle of an insect from a larva to an adult in the southern regions takes 1 year, in the northern regions – 2 years |
| Where does it winter | In soil at a depth of up to 60 cm, in compost and manure heaps |
| When it starts hurting | The mass exit of the pest from hibernation begins when the soil at a depth of 20-30 cm warms up to 12-15 ° C |
What is dangerous bear
Medvedka is an omnivorous insect that harms all crops without exception, including seedlings of trees and shrubs, eating up their roots. Sometimes it gnaws off stems and eats plant shoots. In addition, the bear gnaws the sown seeds.
Medvedka lives both in open ground and in greenhouses. And both adults and larvae harm plants.
Each female lays a large number of eggs, which means that soil contamination by this pest can be large-scale.
In the open field, the bears lay their eggs in mid-May, and in greenhouses – already in mid-March. After 10 – 20 days (2), larvae are born. At first, they are in the nest under the protection of the female and feed on humus, but after 20-30 days they crawl away, begin to dig their own minks, gnaw the roots of plants and eat away the seeds (3). Larvae usually cause massive damage to plants from mid-June to the end of July.
Signs of the appearance of a bear
The main sign of damage by a bear is the sudden withering of the plant. If you pull it by the top, it is easily pulled out of the soil and it is immediately clear that the roots have been gnawed.
Numerous horizontal passages near the soil surface also speak of the presence of a bear in the garden, vegetable garden and greenhouse.
Reasons for the appearance of a bear
Medvedka loves wet places rich in humus. Often settles in areas with fertile soil, which are located near water bodies – rivers, lakes, ponds. In a word, where it is comfortable for plants – in well-fertilized areas with irrigation – it will be wonderful for a bear.
The introduction of organic matter – manure, humus, compost can provoke the appearance of a pest.
How to get rid of a bear in the garden
Fighting Medvedka is not an easy task and requires a systematic approach.
Folk methods
Dung traps. Medvedki love organics, so they are quite easy to trap. Do it better in the fall. In the infected area, it is necessary to dig a hole 0,5 m deep and fill it with manure – preferably horse. In search of a secluded warm place for wintering, pests will definitely climb into the manure. As soon as a steady sub-zero temperature sets in, the manure must be removed from the pits and scattered over the surface of the site. Sleeping bears will surely die from the cold. And manure, by the way, will become an additional fertilizer for the soil.
Heaps of manure can be spread out over the site in May – female bears will climb there to lay their eggs. In a month, the heaps can be stirred up and destroyed by pests and their masonry.
Dishes with water. Another simple and safe method is to dig dishes in several places on the site flush with the soil and pour 2/3 (4) water into it. In search of moisture, the bears will climb into containers, but they will not be able to get out of there. It remains to collect them and destroy them.
Preparations
There are several effective drugs that are designed to combat the bear.
Grizzly. This drug is a bait for the bear and is available in the form of granules. Recommended for use on various crops:
- potatoes (except for early varieties) – add to the soil when planting tubers to a depth of 2 – 5 cm;
- cabbage (except for early varieties) – apply to the soil when planting seedlings or sowing seeds to a depth of 2 – 5 cm, if necessary, apply again after 10 – 14 days;
- garden flowers – add to the soil during the period of active growth to a depth of 2 – 5 cm;
- strawberries (strawberries) – apply to the soil to a depth of 2 – 5 cm immediately after harvesting.
The consumption rate of granules in all cases is 20 g per 10 sq. m (5). Under the early varieties of vegetables, the drug cannot be applied, because the minimum period from application to harvest is 60 days.
Medvetoks. These are also bait pellets. They are introduced directly into the soil during the period of active plant growth – you need to dig a groove 3 cm deep along the perimeter of the beds, spread the granules into it at the rate of 20 g per 10 square meters. m (5), cover with earth and pour plenty of water. It is better to lay out poisonous bait in the evening. And in a month, when the larvae appear, a new portion of the granules must be introduced into the soil according to the same scheme.
The drug is recommended for all crops, except for early ripening vegetables – at least 60 days must pass from the introduction of granules to harvest.
Thunder. Bait preparation in the form of granules. They are introduced into the soil during the period of active plant growth to a depth of 3 – 5 cm. Suitable for all vegetable, flower crops and strawberries. Consumption rate – 30 g per 10 square meters. m (5).
Terradox. Bait in the form of granules. Suitable for various crops, but application times vary:
- potatoes and cabbage (except early varieties), onions (except onions for feathers) – during the period of active growth;
- strawberries – immediately after harvest.
In all cases, the drug is applied in the same way – into the soil to a depth of 2 – 5 cm (5).
Medvegon. Bait in granules. Like all other baits, it is embedded in the soil to a depth of 2 – 5 cm, the consumption rate is 20 g per 10 square meters. m (5). But the timing of the introduction depends on the culture:
- vegetables and flowers – before sowing or planting seedlings;
- strawberries – after harvest.
Rembek. Bait in granules for all types of crops. Make it at the rate of 30 g per 10 square meters. m (5). The timing of application depends on the culture:
- potatoes – when planting in the hole:
- vegetables, flowers, fruit and berry plants – during the period of active growth.
The bait cannot be used for early vegetables – you can harvest the crop no earlier than 60 days after application.
Rofatoks. Bait in the form of granules. Recommended for vegetables (except for early varieties and herbs) and flowers. It is necessary to introduce the drug into the soil to a depth of 3 – 5 cm, the norm is 30 g per 10 square meters. m (5). Under potatoes – when planting in holes. Waiting period – 60 days (before the harvest can not be harvested).
Frontier. Bait pellets. They are introduced into the soil to a depth of 3-5 cm – under flowers before sowing seeds or planting seedlings, as well as during the period of active plant growth. And for potatoes – directly into the holes when planting tubers. Consumption rate – 30 g per 10 sq. m (5). The waiting period is 60 days, so the drug is not suitable for early varieties of vegetables and herbs.
How to get rid of a bear in a greenhouse
Medvedki most often get into the greenhouse with contaminated soil. And since the space is limited here, it can do more harm – the choice of plants is small. Therefore, it is imperative to fight it.
Folk methods
In the greenhouse, you can use the same methods of struggle as in the open field – lay out manure heaps in May and dig in containers of water. And in the fall, it is better to remove the infected soil from the greenhouse and pour in a new one, without a pest.
Preparations
For greenhouses, the same preparations are used as in open ground.
Prevention from infection with a bear
Weeding. Medvedka feeds not only on cultivated plants, but also on the roots of weeds. And the more food she has, the more actively she breeds. Therefore, it is important to weed out all weeds in time.
Loosening. In the end of May – June, it is useful to loosen the beds 2 – 3 times to a depth of 10 – 15 cm. Loosening will also help to destroy some of the pests and their larvae.
Autumn digging of the soil. Adults and larvae overwinter in the soil, so in the fall you need to dig up the area on a shovel bayonet without breaking clods – the pests that find themselves in them will freeze and die in winter.
Popular questions and answers
We talked about the fight against Medvedka with agronomist-breeder Svetlana Mikhailova.
What do bear holes look like?
What is the difference between the larvae of the bear and the cockchafer?
And the larva of the May beetle just looks like a caterpillar, and it is white.
What sounds does the bear make?
Sources of
- Novak V., Grozinka F., Stary B. Atlas of insect pests of forest species // Prague, state agricultural publication, 1974 – 126 p.
- Vasiliev V.P. Pests of crops and forest plantations. In 3 volumes / Under the general editorship of Vasiliev V.P. (2nd ed., corrected and supplemented). V. 1. Harmful nematodes, mollusks, arthropods / Ed. Volumes Dolin V.G. // K .: Harvest, 1987 – 440 p.
- Savkovsky P.P. Atlas of pests of fruit and berry crops // K .: Harvest, 1990
- Korchagin V.N., Belolipetsky A.V. Protection of the garden and garden from pests, diseases and weeds. Handbook // M.: Kolos, 1993 – 318 p.
- State catalog of pesticides and agrochemicals permitted for use on the territory of the Federation as of July 6, 2021 // Ministry of Agriculture of the Federation. https://mcx.gov.ru/ministry/departments/departament-rastenievodstva-mekhanizatsii-khimizatsii-i-zashchity-rasteniy/industry-information/info-gosudarstvennaya-usluga-po-gosudarstvennoy-registratsii-pestitsidov-i-agrokhimikatov/