Owocówki - what are these insects?
Fruits are small butterflies. Caterpillars of these insects, feeding on fruit, wreak havoc on fruit crops.
Adult fruit butterfly lays eggs on fruit buds in May. Caterpillars of the first generation, after feeding, leave the fruit and some of them hibernate. From others, after pupation, butterflies of the second generation fly out.The second generation is already feeding on ripening fruit, from July to August. Fruits overwinter in cracks in tree bark and in litter under trees.
The fruit of the plum differs from the apple in that the young caterpillars can undergo the entire development and feed only on the leaves of the plum. The larvae can feed in the orchard even when there are no fruit on the trees.
Ways to fight fruit fruits
Here are some of the most effective:
- picking and destroying fruit damaged by caterpillars before they turn into butterflies. Damaged apples and pears with caterpillars inside must not be thrown onto the compost, because the pest will overwinter and will produce another generation in a year
- hanging bird boxes (10 per hectare). The great tit that inhabits them are eaten by caterpillars
- using the corrugated cardboard grip bands on tree trunks in May, and for the second time in August. Checking them every 1-2 weeks and destroying caterpillars found there
- introducing the fruit-bearing enemy to the orchard - the kruszynka (Trichogramma cacoecia), the larvae of which feed on the fruit's eggs
- using biopreparations containing viruses that kill fruit fruit
- using natural preparations based on commonly available crops and weeds. Spraying is performed prophylactically when we notice pests and before their departure.
Horsetail manure
1 kg of fresh herb or 200 g of herbs pour 10 liters of water. For spraying, use diluted water in a 1: 4 ratio.
Horseradish infusion
500 g of shredded, fresh roots, flowers and leaves pour 10 liters of boiling water and leave to cool. Use without diluting.
Wormwood extract
300 g of fresh herb or 30 g of herbs pour 10 liters of warm water. We leave for 24 hours. For spraying, use diluted with water in a ratio of 1:20.
Infusion of the Wormwood
300 g of fresh herb or 30 g of dried, shoots and leaves collected during flowering, pour 10 liters of warm water and leave for 24 hours. For spraying, use diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1.
Tansy decoction
300 g of fresh herb or 30 g of dry pour over 10 liters of water and cook for 20 minutes. After cooling, use without diluting.
Tomato decoction
Boil 1 kg of fresh tomatoes in 10 liters of water for about 30 minutes. Before use, dilute with water in a ratio of 1: 3.
