Flower midges on seedlings: how to get rid of tiny but very dangerous pests
Even following all the rules for caring for indoor plants does not guarantee that they are not attacked by parasites. Small midges circling over domestic flowers are a fairly common phenomenon, and many believe that they live in the air and on plant leaves. However, this is not at all the case, and it is better for flower growers to figure out in advance what kind of parasite an earth fly is, how to get rid of it quickly and forever.
Content
Features of an adult soil fly
They are members of the Simuliidae family. There are several varieties of them, most of them choose the pots of houseplants as their habitat, but some parasitize in the soil in which vegetable crops grow. They do not pose a direct danger to humans, but are capable of destroying plants.
| Appearance | Outwardly, pests differ from ordinary flies only in size. The size of an adult ground fly does not exceed 2-2,5 mm. The body consists of 3 sections: head, abdomen and chest. On the back is a pair of transparent wings. There are 3 pairs of strong limbs. Color brown-black. The eyes are large, facet type. |
| Life cycle and reproduction | The insect goes through a full cycle of transformation. Ground flies can only breed in a humid environment. The female lays her eggs on the leaves of plants. During the season, 1-3 generations of pests are born. The larvae are similar to worms, they go through 3-6 molts, after which they turn into a pupa. The life cycle of the earth fly is short - from several days to several weeks, the second generation is already much more numerous than the first. |
| Nutrition and preferences | Most species feed on organic matter rotting in the ground, and also gnaw the roots of young, fragile shoots. It all depends on the type of pest, but any houseplant can infect midges. For example, podura prefer flowers with soft and delicate leaves, such as fuchsias and begonias. Sciarids love plants with dense leaves - violets, azaleas, ficuses. |
The main types of flower midges
The species diversity of flies that infect indoor plants is quite large. They are usually classified according to their appearance and divided into 3 large groups.
Reasons for the appearance of midges in flowers
As mentioned above, even the most thorough care of a plant cannot guarantee that midges will not start in it.
The following factors can serve as the reasons for the appearance of pests in a flower pot.
What harm does the earth fly do
These parasites fly around the plant and eat it. However, the main danger for the flower is the larvae - they live in the soil and devour the root system, thereby depriving the plant of the necessary nutrition. The affected plant quickly withers and dies after a while.
How to get rid of midges in flower pots
The main condition for successful pest control is its timely start.
If the midges are wound up in large numbers, and the ground is full of larvae, it is almost impossible to remove them.
To exterminate pests, you can use special chemical compounds or folk remedies. It is also necessary to pay attention not only to the plant on which the midge was seen, but also to the neighboring ones, since most likely the parasites managed to get over to them.
Chemical agents for the fight against midges
Insecticides are the fastest and most effective way to get rid of parasites. Any of these drugs has toxicity, therefore, their use cannot be considered completely safe. The use of chemicals is advisable if the infection is massive and no other methods have helped to destroy the pests.
The following means from the rating are suitable for the extermination of an earth fly.
Folk remedies for soil flies
There are many folk recipes for dealing with flower pests.
Most often, gardeners use the following methods.
| Means | Method of use |
|---|---|
| Garlic | Flying parasites do not tolerate the smell of this vegetable. A few cloves of garlic must be cut into slices, spread out on the soil, and it is better to deepen slightly. You can also prepare a solution for spraying plants: chop 1 head of garlic and pour a glass of boiling water, then insist in a dark place for 3-4 days. Strain the resulting solution, use for spraying and watering the soil. |
| Hydrogen peroxide | 2 tbsp. l. Dilute a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution in a liter of water. Spray the plants with the resulting liquid and spill the soil. The tool kills both adults and their larvae. |
| Маргацовка | Water the soil with a light pink solution of potassium permanganate as it dries. It is important not to overdo it with the concentration of the substance, otherwise you can burn the roots of plants. |
| orange peel | Citrus fruits have a pungent odor that midges cannot tolerate. Orange peels must be cut into small pieces and stuck into the ground. |
| Laundry soap | Most pests cannot tolerate laundry soap, and the earth midge is no exception. 20 gr. soap must be grated and dissolved in 1 liter. warm water. Treat the ground part of the plant and soil with the resulting liquid. |
| Wood Ash | A very simple, but no less effective method. You just need to sprinkle wood ash on the ground, and then loosen its top layer a little. |
| Dill | Fresh sprigs of dill should be laid out in a pot. As they dry out, replace them with new ones. |
| Matches | Moshkara does not tolerate sulfur. Matches should be stuck into the ground with their heads down, and then a little water should be poured over the soil. After 2-3 days, the matches are replaced with new ones. |
Is the bite of an earth fly dangerous?
Most species of ground flies are not inclined to bite people; their mouthparts are not very adapted for this. The harm from midges for humans is not significant - they are very annoying with their buzzing and often get into food. However, in some cases, black midges can attack a person. Unlike mosquitoes, they do not bite, but incise the skin, which is associated with the structural features of their oral apparatus.
A very itchy swelling forms at the site of the bite, which gradually increases and becomes painful.
Treatment of bites
It is important in no case to comb the bite site - after a second of relief, the itching will arise with renewed vigor, and the inflammation will spread further along the skin. To prevent allergic reactions, it is recommended to take any antihistamine. The affected area of \uXNUMXb\uXNUMXbthe skin can be treated with ointment "Golden Star", "Calamine".
Prevention of the appearance of soil flies
In order to prevent harmful midges from settling in a flower pot, a number of recommendations should be followed:
- Remove fallen and withered leaves from the pot in a timely manner. Rotting plant debris is a very favorable breeding ground for pests.
- Moderate watering. Excessive moisture is the main reason for the appearance of midges in the soil.
- Transplanting flowers into soil that does not contain organic residues, dust, mold, etc., before planting, it is better to treat the soil with steam or hold it in the cold.
- Regular airing of the room in which the flowers are located.
- The top layer of soil can be sprinkled with marble chips or a coarse-grained piece.