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Each gardener cherishes and cherishes his plants, counting on the harvest. But pests do not sleep. They also want to eat vegetable plants, and without the help of a gardener, they have little chance of surviving. One of the worst enemies of nightshade vegetables is the Colorado potato beetle.
This is a leaf-eating pest that can multiply very quickly. In one season, the Colorado potato beetle can change up to 3 generations, each of which gives life to new pests. The larvae of the beetle are very voracious, growing up, they crawl along the neighboring bushes of plants, continuing their harmful activity.
Every year, gardeners make a lot of efforts to cope with this insidious pest. Everyone fights with the Colorado potato beetle as best he can. Someone collects pests by hand, some use folk methods. But most often it is not possible to do without the use of chemical means of protection. We have to use various drugs to destroy the Colorado potato beetle.
Varieties of insecticide
Substances designed to fight insects that damage garden crops are called insecticides. They enter the body of pests in various ways:
- When an insect comes into contact with a damaging preparation. Such insecticides are not able to penetrate the internal tissues of the plants they are designed to protect, so they can easily be washed away by the first rain. This method of protection is not very reliable.
- When a pest eats a plant that has absorbed an insecticide, that is, through the intestines. With this method of processing, the drug is absorbed by all parts of the plants and easily moves through its vessels. This way of destroying pests is more reliable, but at the same time less safe for the plants themselves, especially if the insecticide has phytotoxicity.
In practice, most insecticides have a mixed effect, both contact and intestinal.
The composition of insecticides can include different substances.
- Chloroorganic.
- Synthetic and natural pyrethrins.
- Based on carbamic acid derivatives.
- Preparations containing mineral and vegetable poisons.
- Based on organophosphorus compounds.
- The safest drugs in which the active ingredient are bacteria and viruses.
Description of Tanrek
Recently, drugs based on neonicotinoids have become increasingly popular. In Our Country, several substances from this group are allowed for use. The most commonly used insecticides are imidacloprid. One of these drugs is Tanrek from the Colorado potato beetle. For each liter of the drug, there are 200 g of imidacloprid.
How it works
The action of this drug is based on the ability of imidacloprid to be absorbed by the leaf mass of potato bushes. When a beetle or larva tries such a leaf, the drug enters the pest’s stomach with it. At the same time, the activity of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme in the pest is blocked, which, in turn, causes a blockade of nerve impulses. Insects are overexcited and die. Thus, Tanrek acts in three ways at once: contact, intestinal and systemic. The effect of the treatment is noticeable after a few hours, and within a few days all pests will die. For another three weeks, potato foliage will be poisonous to the Colorado potato beetle or larvae.
How to apply
Imidaproclid is highly soluble in water, in which it must be diluted. It is impossible to store the solution, therefore, the drug is diluted immediately before processing. Dilute one ampoule of the drug with a volume of 1 ml with a small amount of water, stir and bring the volume to 10 liters and stir again.
Substances with an alkaline or acidic reaction adversely affect the properties of the drug.
The drug is poured into the sprayer and processed. It is better to do it in the morning or in the evening. The weather must be calm.
Potato plantings from the Colorado potato beetle can be processed once per season. Unfortunately, the pest may become addicted to the drug, so for re-treatment it is better to choose an insecticide based on a different active substance.
Toxicity and safety measures
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Instructions for use Tanrek from the Colorado potato beetle says that this drug has a hazard class for humans and other mammals – 3. It decomposes in the soil after 77-200 days, so the hazard class of the drug for stability in the soil is 2. The same value and for fish, therefore, it is forbidden to use the drug near water bodies, and even more so to drain it there. This substance has a strong danger to bees, as it causes the disintegration of their colonies. The apiary should not be located closer than 10 km from the place of processing.
Using this remedy for the Colorado potato beetle can reduce it due to the death of earthworms.
In order not to harm your health, you need to process plants in a special suit, respirator and gloves. Wash your face, wash your hands and rinse your mouth afterwards.
Advantages
- Works on pests of any age.
- The spectrum of action is quite wide.
- There is no dependence on the weather.
- Easy to prepare and apply.
- Works long enough.
- Relatively safe.
- Low consumption and low price.
When deciding to use chemical pest control measures, remember that this is a last resort. Apply them when other means have already been tried and have not brought results. Any harsh intervention in the existing biological system disrupts its balance and is fraught with unpredictable consequences. Take care of your health and the health of your family and friends.