NEWARK, DE If your ga
den had a weed problem last fall,
it’s worthwhile to check for soil
insects this spring.
“Most of the soil insects that
attackgarden plants are favored by
weed growth,” says Mark Graus
tein. University of Delaware
Extension entomologist Howev
er, if you turned the soil over last
fall, the chances for soil insect
problems this spring are reduced.”
Graustein says that mulching
and other practices that increase
soil organic matter seem to attract
certain pests such as seedcorn
maggots and wireworms. White
grubs and cutworms are often
found in land left in sod or unma
naged for several years.
“When it’s possible, rotate
plants in the garden from year to
year to help reduce soil insect
populations,” the specialist says.
Graustein suggests that home
gardeners check their garden for
soil insects now. “A simple obser
vation of the insects that appear
when the soil is turned over for the
first time will give a good indica
tion of what type and how many
pests there are,” he says. “Close
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Search For Soil Insects Should Start
observation will require breaking
apart soil clods.”
The following soil insects most
commonly cause problems in
home vegetable plantings:
‘Seedcorn Maggots Adults
resemble houseflies. Larvae are
white maggots found in or near
germinating seed. In their presence
seeds may fail to germinate or see
dlings will be very weak. Bore
holes in seed cotyledons are a sign
No-Till Equipment Available In Montgomery County
CREAMERY The Mont
gomery County Conservation Dis
trict will have the latest no-till
planting equipment available to
assist county fanners in reducing
soil erosion this year. No-till plant
ing means planting in existing
grass or crop residue which elimi
nates exposing the soil to rainfall
and erosion. Herbicides are used to
control unwanted vegetation just
as in conventional fanning. The
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Applications
• Cattle feeding mixers
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Applications
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of the preset amount
of infestation.
‘Black Cutworms Larvae
are gray to brown with light stripes
and have a greasy appearance.
They feed noctumally, cutting see
dlings at or within a few inches of
soil surface.
‘Climbing Cutworms Lar
vae are gray to brown with light
dots down the back and smooth
skin. They climb plants at night
no-till equipment available for
leasing is as follows: a 10 foot
wide Grain Drill, 7-inch row spac
ing for $9/acre; 4-row Complanter
- 30-inch row spacing for $9/acre;
(2) 4-row cornplanters - 38-inch
row spacing for $9/acre; a 6-row
complanter 30-inch row spacing
few sll/acre.
The 6-row complanter is
equipped to handle liquid fertiliz-
and feed on foliage, buds or fruit.
‘Wireworms These worms
are long and cylindrical, with a
smooth, hard, yellow to brown
skin. Primarily root feeders, they
often bore into the stems of seed
lings below soil level.
‘White Grubs—The larvae of
May, June and Japanese beetles,
these grubs are one-half to one
inch long, white with brown heads.
They curl in a typical C shape.
er, while the other cornplanters
will utilize dry fertilizer.
The program not only encour
ages the fanner to try no-till, but
also gives him a first hand look at
the refinements on the latest plan
ters. “Interest is growing in the no
till program in Montgomery Coun
ty,” says Richard Kadwill Erosion
Control Specialist for Montgom
ery .County Conservation District
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Grubs feed on roots, tubers and
other subsurface plant parts. They
can feed for one to three years in
this form.
There are other soil insects that
occasionally cause trouble.
“Because there is always some
thing to be found, it’s important
that you properly identify the
insect,” says Graustein. "Not all
insects arc pests.”
In 1986, 1,700 acres were no
tilled, and in the 1987 growing sea
son, 1,800- acres were planted
through the District’s program
with an estimated soil savings of
7,200 tons.
For more information on the no
till equipment program and sche
duling call the Montgomery Coun
ty Conservation District at
489-4506.
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