[Arid_gardener] bug help

[Dick Gross]

Nanette, you may have had many responses to your question but in the event you have not, this is the little that I know about getting rid of the critters. To explain the delayed response, your inquiry has been setting neglected in my drafts folder .

Worms are relatively easy to control using the biological insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis. This material gives excellent control of worms and can be used with safety around the home. It is sold under several trade names such as Biotrol, Thuricide, Dipel and Biological Worm Killer. To insure complete wetting of the waxy leaf surfaces, I use 1 to 2 teaspoons of a liquid detergent per gallon of spray mixed according to the manufacturer's recommended strength.  I believe that the material works by inducing a fatal case of diaheria when entering the digestive system. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Your local nurseryman can advise you further.

Dick Gross  MCCE Master Gardener Volunteer



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Nanette 
  To: arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu 
  Sent: Friday, September 01, 2006 6:46 PM
  Subject: [Arid_gardener] bug help


  I have caterpillars covering my sweetbroom.hundreds of them, unrelenting. They are orange with small black and white bilaterally symmetrical spots on each segment..with white bristles coming from the spots. I cannot get rid of them by benign methods and am considering spraying with something toxic.do you know what they are and what means of control I could use? They are killing my plant.

   

  Thank you,

  Nanette Glover

  nanetteglover at cox.net

  Tucson, AZ



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