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A huge problem for a beginner grower can be wilting iris buds. To find out the reason, it is necessary to examine the peduncle. Mucous contents and larvae inside the flower indicate the defeat of the iris fly. If timely action is not taken, the culture may die. Iris fly control methods include the use of insecticides and folk remedies.
What does an iris fly look like
Iris flies or flower girls (Anthomyiidae) are representatives of the family of two-winged insects from the superfamily of true flies. Outwardly, they resemble common flies. The difference lies in the coloring. The iris fly (pictured) has a light black body with small yellow spots. She sneaks into the bud in early May and stays there until mating.
The pest feeds on unblown iris petals.
After fertilization has occurred, the flower girl lays her eggs in the bud and leaves it. White-blue larvae remain in the flower, which feed on the sap of the plant. Parasitization of the flower girl leads to the fact that the bud never opens. From above, the inflorescences seem dried up, but inside they turn out to be rotten. If the bud has not been cut and destroyed, the larvae fall under the bush, pupate and overwinter in the leaf litter. In spring, the biological cycle of the iris fly is repeated.
Causes and signs of damage to irises by an iris fly
The reason for the defeat of the iris fly is a warm climate. The larvae, caught in the ground under the leaf litter, pupate and successfully survive the winter, and in the spring new insects appear from them. In regions with a harsh climate, iris flies cannot overwinter, so they are rarely seen in a flower bed.
The larvae of the iris fly cause the greatest harm.
Most often, mid- and late-flowering varieties suffer. The peduncle first develops as usual, but it does not come to blooming.
The bulk of the buds damaged by the iris fly do not open
When palpated, they resemble a soft substance. Blooming flowers are also deformed: their petals quickly curl, and the buds dry up.
You can notice the appearance of iris flies by the spots on the edges of the petals. This is due to the fact that the insect makes a puncture with its proboscis and feeds on the sap of the plant. In addition, green discharge can be seen on the surface of the flowers. The struggle at this point comes down to cutting and destroying the flowers.
The invasion of iris flies is observed in regions with a warm climate and mild winters. Gardeners note that hybrid varieties bred by crossing suffer from these insects.
Some types of irises, for example, Siberian, cereal, are not subject to the invasion of the flower girl, even if they are in the same flower bed with infected hybrids
When and how to deal with the iris fly
Getting rid of pests will require more than just insecticide treatment. The fight against the invasion of insects consists in digging the site, collecting and burning foliage, as well as using folk remedies.
Spraying at the time of budding may not work. It is advisable to carry out the processing during the period when the flower arrow only appears from the rhizome. Repeated spraying is carried out during the formation of flower buds, it is necessary to have time before the moment when they are painted.
If during the examination of the peduncles there is a suspicion of the appearance of an iris fly, it is necessary to pick the bud and check it for the presence of larvae. If insects are found, the buds are urgently disposed of. They are cut and necessarily burned away from the site.
Methods of dealing with iris fly folk remedies
Gardeners recommend not immediately switching to chemicals. If the scale of infection is not large, the fight can be started with the help of folk remedies. Processing is carried out during the appearance of flower arrows. You can use an ash solution, treat with a soap-alcohol liquid, spray a mixture of pepper, mustard and tobacco dust. These products are safe for humans and plants, but harm insects.
To combat uninvited insects, you can use garlic infusion. To do this, garlic cloves (50 g) are poured with water (0,5 l), heated, but not boiled, allowed to brew and the irises are sprayed with the cooled liquid. The same water can be used for irrigation. This composition is universal. Almost all insects do not tolerate the smell of garlic, so the product can be used to protect not only irises, but also other crops.
Celandine is also used to control the iris fly. For 10 liters of water, 500 g of dry grass will be required. Raw materials are poured with boiling water and allowed to brew. Spraying is carried out with room temperature liquid.
You can use any herb that has a pungent odor or natural bitterness for infusions. An unpleasant aroma will protect the flower beds from pest attacks.
How to get rid of the iris fly with insecticides
The use of chemicals allows you to effectively deal with the iris fly and its larvae.
The use of Confidor showed 90% destruction of the pest. Mospilan is even more reliable; after treatment with this agent, all irises bloom.
The most suitable period for pest control is the appearance of a flower arrow above the soil surface
If you are a little late with spraying, then the efficiency will be much lower.
Preventive measures
Prevention consists in transplanting the crop to another site, as well as digging the earth and treating it with chemicals.
In order to prevent the larvae from overwintering, to combat them, it is necessary to clean the area from fallen leaves. It is desirable to burn the litter away from the site.
Around the flower bed with irises, you can plant flowers or herbs with a pungent odor (for example, marigolds, marigolds, rue, tansy, wormwood) that will repel insects.
Conclusion
Iris fly control methods include timely spraying with insecticides or herbal infusions. In addition, planting can be protected with the help of repellant plants. For preventive purposes, the soil under the irises should be dug up annually. Periodically, the landing site can be changed, and the ground can be treated with chemicals.
