Help! I have HUGE larvae in my beds! - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-28T21:09:04Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/help-i-have-huge-larvae-in-my-beds?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A456174&feed=yes&xn_auth=noMUCH thanks to everyone. I am…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4561892013-03-31T14:09:24.918ZTheresa Bakerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TheresaBaker
<p>MUCH thanks to everyone. I am going to apply beneficial nematodes (need them anyway for the gnats) and then try some serious flooding today to see what happens. These guys are voracious eaters, I planted a dozen tuscan kale seedlings, and they were gone by next morning, no TRACE of them. :-( Talk about upsetting... </p>
<p>FYI too: I see they are moth larvae, so it stands to reason that this would be a very difficult pest to keep out of your beds if you can't keep moths out of the greenhouse…</p>
<p>MUCH thanks to everyone. I am going to apply beneficial nematodes (need them anyway for the gnats) and then try some serious flooding today to see what happens. These guys are voracious eaters, I planted a dozen tuscan kale seedlings, and they were gone by next morning, no TRACE of them. :-( Talk about upsetting... </p>
<p>FYI too: I see they are moth larvae, so it stands to reason that this would be a very difficult pest to keep out of your beds if you can't keep moths out of the greenhouse (which I would bet, most can't). </p>
<p>I will also apply BT, can't hurt, and maybe it will get the young 'uns. Thanks again.</p>
<p></p> According to UC Davis as well…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4563712013-03-31T05:06:53.642ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>According to UC Davis as well as UMASS ... Bt is not really that effective against cutworms...unless you get 'em at an early larval stage (first and second instar)...</p>
<p>One of the very, VERY big advantages of any soil-less growing method (like AP) is that you don't (or shouldn't anyways) have to deal with a myriad of soil borne pests like these cut worms (not to mention bacterial and fungal pathogens). But all that becomes null and void when folks start introducing vectors…</p>
<p>According to UC Davis as well as UMASS ... Bt is not really that effective against cutworms...unless you get 'em at an early larval stage (first and second instar)...</p>
<p>One of the very, VERY big advantages of any soil-less growing method (like AP) is that you don't (or shouldn't anyways) have to deal with a myriad of soil borne pests like these cut worms (not to mention bacterial and fungal pathogens). But all that becomes null and void when folks start introducing vectors like...starting seeds in a soil mix then transplanting them into their AP systems...purchasing seedlings from garden centers, then transplanting them into their AP systems...It sorta defeats a big part of the purpose of not using a soil-less method in the first place (when crappy stuff like this happens)...</p>
<p>Cutworms are going to be a tough one...I wish you luck, and happy hunting. Maybe someone else knows of some easy/effective way to get rid of them? There are parasitic wasps <i>(Apanteles </i><span>spp.) and some parasitic nematodes (<i>Steinernema carpocapsae)</i> that will prey on cutworm larvae, but you probably need something quicker to save your plants..? I would definitely try Georges method of flooding the bed completely then picking them out.</span></p>
<p>E. fetida (red wriggler worms) can stay submerged indefinitely as long as their is an OK amount of O2 in the water...</p> Cutworms do spend their time…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4563652013-03-31T03:53:23.990ZBob Terrellhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BobTerrell
<p>Cutworms do spend their time under the top, so you need to flood to drive them up to where you can see them. Flooding should not harm your red wigglers since they need the water to breath.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Theresa Baker said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/help-i-have-huge-larvae-in-my-beds?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A452725&page=2#4778851Comment456283"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>BUMMER. I saw thousands of red worms <good> NO…</p>
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<p>Cutworms do spend their time under the top, so you need to flood to drive them up to where you can see them. Flooding should not harm your red wigglers since they need the water to breath.<br/> <br/> <cite>Theresa Baker said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://community.theaquaponicsource.com/forum/topics/help-i-have-huge-larvae-in-my-beds?id=4778851%3ATopic%3A452725&page=2#4778851Comment456283"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>BUMMER. I saw thousands of red worms <good> NO cutworms. <bad></p>
<p>Maybe it was too early. It was definitely totally dark. Used a flashlight. Looked under leaves... Didn't flood the beds, maybe that would help? Figure I can do that during the day. Just don't want to drown my worms, anyone know how long they can stay submerged? Seems like flooding might be a great way to get rid of lots of things you don't want in there! Otherwise, things are very healthy... They must have rode in on a plant that I transplanted in there. DANG.</p>
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</blockquote> BUMMER. I saw thousands of re…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4562832013-03-31T03:45:05.031ZTheresa Bakerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TheresaBaker
<p>BUMMER. I saw thousands of red worms <good> NO cutworms. <bad></p>
<p>Maybe it was too early. It was definitely totally dark. Used a flashlight. Looked under leaves... Didn't flood the beds, maybe that would help? Figure I can do that during the day. Just don't want to drown my worms, anyone know how long they can stay submerged? Seems like flooding might be a great way to get rid of lots of things you don't want in there! Otherwise, things are very healthy... They must have…</p>
<p>BUMMER. I saw thousands of red worms <good> NO cutworms. <bad></p>
<p>Maybe it was too early. It was definitely totally dark. Used a flashlight. Looked under leaves... Didn't flood the beds, maybe that would help? Figure I can do that during the day. Just don't want to drown my worms, anyone know how long they can stay submerged? Seems like flooding might be a great way to get rid of lots of things you don't want in there! Otherwise, things are very healthy... They must have rode in on a plant that I transplanted in there. DANG.</p> Yay! Thanks Bob!! It's almos…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4561742013-03-31T02:52:37.621ZTheresa Bakerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TheresaBaker
<p>Yay! Thanks Bob!! It's almost dark... heh heh heh...</p>
<p>Yay! Thanks Bob!! It's almost dark... heh heh heh...</p> NO DOUBT in my mind that is a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4561732013-03-31T02:50:42.535ZBob Terrellhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BobTerrell
<p>NO DOUBT in my mind that is a CUTWORM larva. Now go attack them with a flashlight and flooding.</p>
<p>NO DOUBT in my mind that is a CUTWORM larva. Now go attack them with a flashlight and flooding.</p> I now see that there does app…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-31:4778851:Comment:4562732013-03-31T00:52:47.243ZTheresa Bakerhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TheresaBaker
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2684363231?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-full" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2684363231?profile=original" width="649"></img></a> I now see that there does appear to be a head... or a big MOUTH at one end. Sorry for the mis-info. ICK. I never see them during the day, so maybe they are cutworms. We certainly have those here. I Discovered them when digging deep in my beds to remove old plant roots. </p>
<p>I just discovered that all of your thoughtful replies were in my SPAM folder. Sorry for the late…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2684363231?profile=original" target="_self"><img src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/2684363231?profile=original" width="649" class="align-full"/></a>I now see that there does appear to be a head... or a big MOUTH at one end. Sorry for the mis-info. ICK. I never see them during the day, so maybe they are cutworms. We certainly have those here. I Discovered them when digging deep in my beds to remove old plant roots. </p>
<p>I just discovered that all of your thoughtful replies were in my SPAM folder. Sorry for the late response. I fixed it. I am heading out there tonight with a flashlight. Whatever it is-seems to leave larger plants (month-old lettuce) alone. At first I thought it was slugs, but I was only able to trap a couple, pretty slug-free so far in the greenhouse this spring. </p>
<p>Thanks again, SO appreciate.</p> If cutworms:
1. Stalk them a…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-21:4778851:Comment:4528582013-03-21T16:24:26.079ZGeorgehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/Geoge
<p>If cutworms:</p>
<p>1. Stalk them at night with flashlight or</p>
<p>2. Flood bed completely submerging gravel - they'll quickly come to the top</p>
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<p>One or two cutworms can do a surprising amount of damage. They're night workers. </p>
<p></p>
<p>If cutworms:</p>
<p>1. Stalk them at night with flashlight or</p>
<p>2. Flood bed completely submerging gravel - they'll quickly come to the top</p>
<p></p>
<p>One or two cutworms can do a surprising amount of damage. They're night workers. </p>
<p></p> You know what they say...a pi…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-21:4778851:Comment:4526002013-03-21T14:29:19.681ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>You know what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words...</p>
<p>You know what they say...a picture is worth a thousand words...</p> Guess we will know more if sh…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2013-03-21:4778851:Comment:4526762013-03-21T13:51:36.696ZBob Terrellhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BobTerrell
<p>Guess we will know more if she can get us a picture, I bet then it will take 30 seconds to identify.</p>
<p>Guess we will know more if she can get us a picture, I bet then it will take 30 seconds to identify.</p>