How to get rid of the click beetle using folk remedies and medications, control measures

The spread of click beetles in a garden can have undesirable consequences. This dangerous pest attacks a variety of crops, including vegetables and grains. Due to the insect's activity, crops become weaker, and their yields are significantly reduced. Chemicals and folk remedies are used to control the pest.

General information about the pest

The click beetle family includes a wide variety of beetles. Most of them pose a real threat to agricultural crops. Damage to plants is caused not only by adults, but also by larvae.

Adult beetles are described as reaching 1-2 centimeters in length. Different types of insects have different appearances. These pests have an elongated body, with the head taking up about a third of the body. Their coloring can vary from black to brown. Brown and purple beetles are also found. It takes five years for an egg to develop into an adult beetle.

Peculiarities of the parasite's life activity

With the arrival of spring, female beetles emerge onto the soil surface and lay eggs. Each individual can produce a litter of 100-150 eggs. Each clutch contains 3-5 eggs. Under favorable conditions, the eggs transform into larvae within a month.

During their first year, click beetle larvae do not harm plants. However, in their second year, they cause serious damage to crops. The insects' tough structure helps penetrate root crops, causing them to become loose. As a result, the vegetables become spoiled.

Nutcrackers feed on swollen buds, eat potatoes, and attack the stems, leaves, and roots of plants. After 3-4 years, the larvae transform into pupae. With the arrival of spring, new beetles emerge from the soil.

Conditions of appearance

Pests enter the garden through infected plants. Careless use of garden tools and improper planting of similar crops can also lead to problems.

If even one beetle or its larvae is detected in a plot, measures must be taken to control them. Otherwise, there is a risk of losing most of the crop.

Effective ways to control click beetles

Controlling the beetle is very difficult. It's important to target not only the adults but also the larvae, which will eventually develop into full-fledged pests. The choice of method should be based on the number of pests infested. The owner's preferences should also be taken into account.

Chemicals

The most reliable method of control is considered to be the use of insecticides. Specialized chemicals are highly effective, easy to use, and provide almost 100% results. To eliminate pests in potato fields, it is essential to strictly follow the instructions.

Prestige

To kill beetles, mix 10 liters of water with 10 milliliters of the suspension. Water the prepared mixture into the holes before planting potatoes or other vegetables. When planting flowers, use a watering can. You can also spray the plants with it. The chemical is completely harmless to humans. It completely dissolves in the soil within 50 days.

Taboo

The product is used to treat tubers and seeds. It can only be used during planting. It is a fairly economical solution. To prepare it, mix 10 milliliters of the suspension with 1.5 liters of water. This amount is sufficient to treat 125 kilograms of seeds.

Diazinon

This substance is found in many beetle control products. It is highly toxic and should be used when bulbous plants are severely infested and other methods have failed.

In most cases, gardeners use the substance at a 10% concentration. It does not need to be mixed with water. The mixture is buried in its pure form in the soil in the spring, before planting.

Thunderbolt-2

This insecticide has a wide range of applications. To control click beetles, spread the product at a depth of 3-6 centimeters. Apply 2-3 grams of the product per square meter.

This effective product is considered universal. It not only kills wireworm larvae but also combats mole crickets. The product should be used before planting bulbous plants. The product is applied not directly to the plot itself, but around its perimeter. It should be covered with soil. The soil layer should not exceed 1.5 centimeters. For the product to work, the soil should be watered.

Calypso

This is an effective insecticide used against various pests of bulbous plants. It is important to ensure that the substance does not enter water bodies, as it is highly toxic. It is also dangerous to pets.

It is prohibited to combine it with other chemicals. Also, do not combine the product with fertilizers that contain copper or that cause an alkaline reaction.

To prepare the solution, mix 1 milliliter of the product with 2 liters of water. The prepared mixture is used for external treatment of plants. The poison begins to act on insects within 2 hours. The effect lasts for 1 month. Then, repeat treatment is necessary.

Provotox

This high-quality product reliably protects potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables. It has a contact and intestinal effect. Provotox destroys beetle larvae and reduces the number of affected tubers. It is not addictive.

This product is made with diazinon, which provides long-term protection to plants and gradually eradicates the harmful beetle population. The product should be applied once, when planting. Sometimes, it can be added as an additional layer.

Bazudin

This versatile product provides protection for potatoes. It helps control not only click beetles but also aphids. It's sold in powder form and comes in a convenient dosage. To protect your crop from beetles, mix the product with sand in a 1:4 ratio.

It's important to achieve the most uniform consistency possible. Place the resulting mixture into the potato wells.

One package of the product is enough for a 20 square meter area. The product should be placed at a depth of 15-20 centimeters. Its effect begins 24 hours after application and lasts for 45 days.

Nemabact

The product is a combination of a nematode and a bacterium. The first component penetrates the larvae and infects them with the bacterium, which destroys the pest. Nemabact should be applied directly to the soil.

Folk remedies

To get rid of click beetles, you can also use effective folk remedies. Many methods are known today that produce excellent results.

Onion peel

To kill wireworms when planting potatoes or other crops, simply add a little onion peel to each hole.

Green manure

Green manures also help control pests. To do this, plant the following plants in your plot:

• rape;
• buckwheat;
• peas;
• mustard;
• oilseed radish;
• rapeseed;
• sweet clover.

If you plant these plants for 2-3 years, you can forget about the click beetle for a long time.

Mustard powder

To combat harmful insects, you can add mustard powder to the holes. Only a small amount is needed for each hole. Hot pepper has a similar effect.

Homemade traps

To control adult beetles and their larvae, use the following methods. In May and June, dig several holes and fill them with last year's grass. Then, water the holes and cover them with plywood. After a few days, a large number of pests will appear in the holes.

The grass should then be removed and burned, after which the hole should be filled with fresh grass. This process should be repeated until all the pests are caught.

Reducing soil acidity

To control harmful beetles, liming is necessary. This procedure is aimed at reducing soil acidity. This is because click beetles prefer acidic soil. Reducing this parameter will help eliminate the pests. This measure will not only solve the problem but also increase crop yields.

Liming helps improve the flavor of plants. For best results, you can use lime, chalk, or wood ash. Specialized chemical compounds are also suitable.

Fertilizers containing ammonia and minerals

To eliminate beetles, you can systematically use products containing ammonia and minerals. Ammonium sulfate and ammonia water are suitable for this purpose. Apply 20-30 grams of the product per square meter.

Ground eggshells

This is one of the simplest and most readily available methods for controlling click beetles. Simply scatter eggshells over your garden beds throughout the summer.

Potassium permanganate solution

Potassium permanganate is considered an effective pest control method. A solution of this substance should be applied to the soil before planting. To prepare the solution, mix potassium permanganate with water in a 1:2 ratio.

Seasonal digging

To prevent the spread of beetles, it's essential to dig the soil seasonally. In early spring and summer, weed and loosen the soil. Eggs, larvae, and other harmful insects will become prey for birds. Furthermore, exposure to sunlight will cause them to lose their viability.

Damage from wireworms

Black beetles on potatoes In other crops, they are considered a warning sign. They gnaw at vegetable tubers and damage grains. As a result, the plant becomes significantly weaker. Insect infestation slows the development of leafy greens. The pests make holes in root vegetables, which negatively impacts the quality of the harvest. The larvae also transmit fungal diseases and bacteria.

Affected vegetables lose their commercial value. Furthermore, they are unfit for consumption due to a significantly reduced shelf life. These root vegetables quickly begin to rot. The click beetle also poses a threat to humans due to the need for chemicals. Toxins accumulate in the fruit and soil, negatively impacting the following year's harvest.

Preventive measures

To protect your plants from pest infestations, follow these guidelines:

1. After harvesting, clear the area of ​​weeds and tops.
2. When planting, maintain a distance between plants.
3. Constantly monitor the site for cleanliness. Remove weeds and debris after planting.
4. Apply fertilizers in a timely manner.
5. Periodically add chalk, eggshells or lime to the soil.
6. Loosen the soil and prevent water stagnation.

The click beetle is a dangerous pest that reduces crop quality and can even cause plant death. To avoid such problems, it's important to identify the pests promptly and take measures to eradicate them.