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Plants in the garden are often affected by various insects. It is important to process the cabbage from the flea in time in order to preserve the crop. Pests multiply rapidly and are capable of completely destroying a vegetable crop in a few days.
Why are cabbage fleas dangerous?
The cabbage flea is a small bug that does not look like the usual blood-sucking flea. It has a convex oval body, no more than 3,5 mm in length. Has six paws. The hind legs have well-developed muscles on the thighs, thanks to which the insect jumps high. It also knows how to fly well.
Most often, bugs are painted black, but there are:
- green;
- striped;
- blue;
- having a metallic sheen;
- with a matte finish.
Activity begins to show when the spring temperature reaches + 15 ° C. Adults immediately start laying eggs and actively eating cabbage.
The place that the flea has eaten instantly begins to dry out. As a result, the head of cabbage does not have time to tie and the plant dies. The insect prefers young cabbage, which has tender leaves. Pests do not attack after the head is fully formed.
The flea lays its eggs in the soil. Worm-like larvae penetrate the root system of the cabbage and eat it. The peak of activity occurs in early summer in sunny weather.
Cabbage fleas multiply rapidly, which leads to the death of a vegetable crop
Insects are less active in rainy weather, but at this time they often move on to lilies and roses, gnawing holes in the buds.
Signs of fleas on cabbage
The invasion of fleas is observed by a change in the appearance of a vegetable crop:
- the destructive effect of the larvae on the root system is noticeable by the withering state of the foliage, which withers even with abundant watering;
- the appearance of adults can be detected by extensive damage to the foliage, the appearance of sores on the surface and gnawed interveins.
With severe damage, cabbage seedlings quickly dry out and die.
The mass defeat by beetles is noticeable by the numerous holes on the leaves.
How to deal with a flea on cabbage
The remedy for fleas on cabbage can be folk, biological or chemical. The choice is stopped depending on the number of insects attacking the vegetable crop.
How to get rid of a flea on cabbage in folk ways
A folk remedy for fleas on cabbage is the safest, but no less effective. Dry pollination of vegetable crops helps well. To do this, mix wood ash in equal proportions and choose from:
- slaked lime;
- tobacco or road dust.
The selected version of the mixture is placed in a gauze bag and shaken over the plant in the morning so that the product has time to stick to the leaves until the dew has come off them.
A sticky trap helps to get rid of fleas, which is used as thin plywood coated with resin. The device is placed around the cabbage, and from above they begin to wave their arms, slightly touching the leaves. Frightened fleas jump out onto the adhesive base. After several approaches, the number of insects is noticeably reduced.
You can cover young seedlings with a spunbond, through which pests cannot get through, and the cabbage will remain intact.
Decoctions and infusions help in the fight against a flea:
- Hot water (10 l) is poured over tobacco leaves (200 g). Stir and leave for 2 hours. After that, filter and add 20 ml of liquid soap.
- In 10 liters of cold water pour 20 ml of 9% vinegar.
- 500 g of roots and 500 g of fresh dandelion leaves are passed through a meat grinder. The mixture is poured into 10 liters of water. Stir. After half an hour, filter and combine with 20 ml of liquid soap.
- In 10 liters of water, dilute 20 ml of valerian, which can be replaced with ammonia.
- Boil for a quarter of an hour 10 liters of water with 4 kg of potato tops. Cool completely, then strain. Dilute with water in a ratio of 1:1.
The prepared mixture is treated with plants in the evening.
Fleas love young seedlings the most
How to deal with cruciferous flea on cabbage with biological preparations
Biopreparations cause much less harm to the environment than chemical agents. To combat a flea on cabbage use:
- Fitoverm. The active substance of the drug is made from the metaplasm of fungi living in the soil, which kills pests. 12 hours after treatment, they are paralyzed, and death occurs after three days. The drug has no effect on the larvae.
Fleas love young seedlings the most
- “Aktophyt”. Get the drug from non-pathogenic soil fungi. The active component of the product adversely affects the nervous system of the pest. In the end, he dies. The biological product treats the entire surface of cabbage leaves. Use immediately after preparation.
How to deal with cruciferous flea on cabbage with chemicals
With a large-scale attack, folk remedies are ineffective. In this case, you should treat the cabbage from the flea with chemicals:
- Bi-58. It is a systemic insecticide, except for the flea, it kills most pests. Dilute the substance in 10 liters of water.
- “Imidalite”. The seeds are treated with the drug before planting, thereby effectively protecting the cabbage during further cultivation.
- “Decis”. A preparation of universal action, which is recommended to treat the plant at an air temperature of at least 25 ° C.
- “Diazinon”. To prevent the attack of fleas, the soil is treated with a preparation before planting seedlings.
- “Bancol”. The advantage is minimal risk to the environment. It is non-toxic to humans, beneficial insects and animals. Fleas die 72 hours after treatment.
- “Naphthalene”. The most affordable and also safe drug. The balls are scattered along the beds with cabbage. For 1 sq. m use 5 g of funds.
- “Karate”. It has the longest period of protective action. After a few minutes, it penetrates the insect through the cuticle and paralyzes it. The flea dies after half an hour. In some cases, the process can take up to 3 hours. This is due to climatic conditions and the physical condition of the pest. The drug works even in rainy weather. Not phytotoxic to culture. Retains its effect during the week.
Prevention of cruciferous flea on cabbage
Prevention plays a big role in the fight against flea. Be sure to observe crop rotation. To do this, annually cabbage is planted in a new place, alternating with other crops. Ideal bed after vegetables from the Solanaceae family.
You can not plant turnips and radishes next to cabbage. If a flea appears on one of these plants, it will destroy all nearby vegetable crops.
Seedlings after planting are sprayed with acetic solution weekly until the heads of cabbage become strong.
By planting seedlings early, flea attacks on cabbage can be prevented.
Pests do not tolerate moisture, so it is worth sprinkling the beds every day. Also, fleas do not tolerate rich aromas. Therefore, they are planted nearby:
- calendula;
- garlic;
- marigold;
- tomatoes;
- caraway.
In the process of growing, it is necessary to remove weeds in time. As a result, the conditions will become unsuitable for the reproduction, residence and development of the flea. In small areas, you can collect and destroy the larvae with your hands.
Gardeners tips
Experienced gardeners advise observing the timing of planting cabbage seedlings in order to avoid a massive attack of fleas. The best time is before and after the main stage of development of the pest. An early variety vegetable should be planted in early April, and a late one in July. So the cabbage has time to develop, and the leaves to coarsen, which will become unattractive to adults.
Fleas overwinter in the top layer of soil, so before frosts it is worth digging up the beds. Individuals that find themselves on the surface die from night frosts.
In order for cabbage to get stronger faster and become unattractive to pests, it is necessary to regularly feed it with saltpeter and organic matter.
If you have a car, you can catch pests with a piece of cloth soaked in used diesel oil. The material is placed on sheets of cardboard or iron and laid out on beds, keeping a distance of 4 m between the traps. Two days later, the fabric is turned over to the other side.
Experienced gardeners daily scatter fresh wormwood tied in bunches between rows of cabbage. Pine or fir oil is also added to the water for irrigation. 10 drops are enough for 15 liters of water. Thus, a strong aroma helps to repel pests.
If you have a car vacuum cleaner, you can vacuum the cabbage. All insects will fall into the trash bag and it remains only to carefully destroy them.
Conclusion
You can process cabbage from a flea in various ways. The main thing is to start the fight immediately after the first signs of pest attack are detected, otherwise the vegetable crop will quickly die.
