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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 23, 2009 21:52:52 GMT
My seeds, seedlings and adult CP's are being overrun by the gnant like bugs. The growth chambers are all in humidomes - I use the typical black rectangle bottom with a matching clear plastic dome - I use tall ones for the adults. What can I do - It is the middle of winter here in Massachusetts and I can not move them outside. Thanks for all of your input.
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taz6122
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Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 23, 2009 23:22:25 GMT
They are probably fungus gnats. I had the same problem until I treated my plants with Ortho systemic insect killer. Home depot is the only place I have found it here. Fungus gnats and larvae will eat seedlings. Use the tray method to treat drosera. Just use your chemical mixture as you would water. You can spray it on others. Acephate is the chemical name, I believe Isotox is another acephate product.
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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 23, 2009 23:44:05 GMT
Thank you for your input - will the chemical damage the seeds, seedlings or adult plants?
If anyone else reads this post and agrees with Taz, please say so.
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taz6122
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Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 23, 2009 23:49:50 GMT
What kind of seeds and seedlings?
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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 24, 2009 0:01:32 GMT
s/sl - drosera, sarc, ping, dionea, darl adult - sarc and fly traps
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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 24, 2009 0:02:32 GMT
noticable seadlings sundew and sarc
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taz6122
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Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 24, 2009 0:18:08 GMT
You can spray the adults. The seedlings are in danger of being eaten so they need immediate attention. The acephate needs to be applied without soaking the drosera plants and maybe pings as well. You might try watering from above with the acephate to treat seeds and seedlings but do it slowly letting the soil soak it up without getting the fluid level high enough to soak the seedlings. If you dont you will lose them anyway to the bugs.
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Post by Aidan on Jan 24, 2009 0:22:36 GMT
Spraying will have little effect as the grubs live in the media and a new generation of adults will soon emerge.
If you can find an insecticidal soil-drench containing either imidacloprid or thiacloprid as the active ingredient, it will solve the problem.
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taz6122
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Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
Posts: 289
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 24, 2009 0:31:23 GMT
I would try Aidans idea. He knows more about it than I.
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Post by Aidan on Jan 24, 2009 0:38:53 GMT
If Acephate may be safely used as a soil-drench there's no reason not to try it, other than the usual caveats of getting too close to organophosphate compounds. Organophosphate based products are banned here and so I have no experience of using them... and frankly wouldn't want to!
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taz6122
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Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
Posts: 289
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 24, 2009 0:55:19 GMT
I would never use it outside because of the threat to the honey bee, but inside is not a problem since I wont be eating the plants myself. lol
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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 24, 2009 1:19:55 GMT
what does everyone think of this stuff: Bacterial treatment is most effective against the young larvae early in the cropping cycle and uses Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis is sold under the trade name of Gnatrolâ„¢ for greenhouse use. This type of B.t. affects only true flies (Order: Diptera) and is different from the B.t. used for caterpillars in the garden. The B.t. causes paralysis of the maggots gut, stopping feeding and killing the maggot. Gnatrolâ„¢ is applied as a soil drench to thoroughly wet the soil of pots, flats, beneath benches, or other sites of infestation. It is only effective for about 48 hours so 2-3 applications may be needed with heavy infestations. Use of Gnatrolâ„¢ is not recommended with simultaneous use of fertilizers or fungicides containing copper or chlorine. It will not affect the adult fungus gnats.
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Post by JeffnBoston2002 on Jan 24, 2009 1:22:10 GMT
also your thoughts on this option:
Parasitic nematodes are also useful for controlling fungus gnats. They enter the insect's body and multiply inside the host insect. While feeding they release a bacterium that is toxic to the host. The nematodes complete their life cycle within a few days so large numbers of infective stage nematodes are produced that will continue to search for new hosts. These beneficial nematodes can be applied as a drench to the growing media and to soil under the benches. Two common species available for greenhouse use are Steinernema carpocapsae, sold as ScanMaskTM, and Steinernema feltiae, sold as NemasysTM
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Post by kulamauiman on Jan 24, 2009 1:25:55 GMT
i think there was also a BT (Bacillus thuriengensis) formulation that killed off fungus gnats. Don't remember what it was called. I have used the one for mosquitoes and it worked for my outside plants and killed off the larvae in my watering trays at the same time. Suspect that all flies in the suborder nemateocera (fungus gnats, mosquitoes, midges, etc) may all be controlled similarly, However dosage and unknown. I was using to control the mosquito larva and found the fungus gnats also went away. I also recall people raising worms (white and grindal for fish food) would use the same product to control fungus gnats in their culture boxes. YMMV
MTF
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taz6122
Full Member
Yesterday is History.Tomorrow is a Mystery and Today is a Gift.Thats why we call it the Present.
Posts: 289
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Post by taz6122 on Jan 24, 2009 18:49:46 GMT
The BT looks promising but you need to look at the ingredients and maybe post them for the Pros to look at. Parasitic nematodes however looks kind of scary, especially this part large numbers of infective stage nematodes are produced that will continue to search for new hosts. I have cats and my cats eat bugs. What would happen to my cats if they ate one that was carrying these Parasitic nematodes? Infants and young children may also eat bugs from time to time. I suppose if you don't have pets or children you wouldn't have anything to worry about.
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