Natural Solutions to Things That Bug You (43 page)

GENERAL BEETLE REPELLANT

    Use one handful of lantana (tickberry) and place the leaves in 2 quarts of water and allow it to remain for 3 hours before straining and adding 4 drops of liquid soap then using as a spray. The leaves can also be crushed and powdered and used as a dusting powder. If you just pound all parts of the plant and spread around the areas where grain are stored it will repel all beetles.

GARDEN BEETLES

ASIATIC GARDEN BEETLE (ASIAN BEETLE)

General Information:

This is a small brown beetle; that are capable of doing a lot of damage. They love crisp green leaves and are a night feeder. One of the best methods of getting rid of them is with an electronic trap purchased from a garden supply house. The grubs can also be killed using Derris.

SPRINKLE THEM AWAY             

One of the most effective methods of getting rid of the Asian beetle indoors is to food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE). Just sprinkle it around the baseboards to kill off the beetle. Try not to breathe the dust; however, DE is harmless to children and pets. Make strong DE spray for outdoors.

VAZOOM

If they get out of hand and are taking over the house, just vacuum them up and dispose of the bag or empty it in a bucket of soapy water.

ASPARAGUS BEETLE

Identification:

    This is a small metallic blue-black beetle that has three yellow-orange squares along each wing cover.

General Information:

It loves to munch on the asparagus stalks and is capable of doing a lot of damage. It will damage both the garden varieties as well as the wild asparagus plants. They will hibernate in trash that is left around the garden and come out in the spring looking for tender young asparagus shoots to lay their eggs on.

REMOVE THEIR HOUSING PROJECT

If you remove all the trash and the beetle cannot find a comfortable home they will pack their bags and move on. Many beetles rely on people who do not clean up before winter sets in. Most gardeners tend to leave the clean up for the spring and this is usually too late.

GIVE THEM AN ALLERGY ATTACK

These beetles do not like to be around nasturtiums and calendula (pot marigolds). They will leave your yard and look for a box of tissues.

CHICKS AND DUCK AND GEESE BETTER SCURRY

If you have a bad infestation the best method of eradication is to release some fowl into the garden. They love beetles and will round them up in short order. Then you need to get rid of the fowl, possibly fried.

HOLD THAT CONTAINER

Asparagus beetles cannot be handpicked since they drop to the ground as soon as they spot you getting too close to them. If you place a jar or can under the insect and then get close it will fall right in the container. This will take a little practice but you will get the hang of it after a while.

DON’T FENCE ME IN

If you place a fence around the asparagus plants and allow some hens to run loose they will eliminate all the beetles for you.

If there is ample grass sod in the area the hens will leave the asparagus plants alone. Don’t leave them there permanently just long enough to get rid of the beetles.

FEED TOMATOES TO ASPARAGUS BEETLES

To prepare a spray from tomato plants, just make the spray by using the freshest leaves you can find as well as the stems and even the tomatoes. Dice up the plant and parts and mix 2 handfuls with 8 cups of water then allow it to stand for 5 hours before straining and applying as soon as possible. This mixture loses potency rather quickly. You can add 4 drops of liquid soap to beef it up a little. This spray will also stop egg-laying by a number of insects.
Tomato leaves are poisonous to humans and animals.
You can also just plant tomato plants around asparagus plants and the beetles will stay away.

ASPARAGUS MINER

General Information:                                                                                         maggot

This bug tends to tunnel close to the base of the plant;
however, some will start their tunnel as high as one foot off the ground and tunnel in, going down, then under the soil in many instances. This pest is found in the Northeast and California and is only considered a “miner” pest. If you clean up all the old asparagus stalks and remnants you will eliminate a new problem in the spring.

  Adult

BEAN LEAF BEETLE

Identification:

    They are about ¼ inch long, reddish with black spots and a small black head. They will lay their eggs on leaves and their larvae will enter the soil to feed on plant roots. You will only find the adult beetle feeding on leaves.

USE FRIENDLY KILLERS

The best method of controlling these pests is to employ some ladybugs and lacewings to eat their eggs. You can also mix Nc nematodes into seed furrows and into the mulch you use around plants. Handpicking them also works well.

PLANTS THAT REPEL THEM

If you plant garlic, radishes, potatoes or cloves around your bean plants the beetles will leave them alone.

SPRAY THEM OFF

Using a jet of water sprayed directly on the plant will dislodge the beetles.