Insects and dahlias

 

The earwig is becoming more nad more common in our flower beds. They  feed on decaying matter but also other insects, mushrooms, tender leaves, flowers, vegetables and fruits.

Simple traps have proven to be very effective in controlling these insects outdoors, because they hide in them. Place the traps in locations they frequent, like the garden or around trees or your home. Hollow objects like a rubber tube, a damp cloth or a

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 rolled up newspaper page are also good shelters you can step on in the morning to crush the insects inside. As bait, a tin can buried in the ground to have the edge at ground level, containing a small quantity of fish, tuna or sardines and vegetable oil or fish. Insects that are killed can be dropped into soapy water.

To expel the intruders from your plants, you can use a mixture of 5 ml of dish soap or baby shampoo in 500ml of water to spray the plant, especially the new leaves and flower buds. This should be repeated regularly.

Cutworms are caterpillars that develop into moths. They spend most of their time under the earth and come out to eat at night. Their presence can ofteb be verified by the damage caused to young plants that are cut at their base. Grasses, and various vegetables and some ornamentals such as dahlias, are often targets. Cutworms are generally active from mid-May to late June. vers_gris
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Scraping the soil around plants, you can find cutworms hiding within the first 3 to 5 cm of soil. You can also hunt for cutworms at night with a flashlight.

 

Researchers have found that a caffeine solution of 1 to 2% eliminated snails and slugs in two days. A low concentration of .01% managed to destroy them. A cup of instant coffee contains about .05% of caffeine and pure coffee beans will contain a little more. One need only soak the soil around the plants to be protected. You can place small containers half-filled with beer in order to attracts and drown them. Change the pots every 2 days or spray a mixture of garlic and water once a week.
Corn rootworms are small, pale green beetles that attack the flower buds and may cause distortions to the flower.  that may create a distortion of the flower or the abortion of the button. There is not much to do that commercial insecticides and systemic rotenone.

Beetles are small shiny black insects that are often able to jump, that devour leaves by riddling with holes.
The following website gives good information about insects, screening and preventive control methods.