[Arid_gardener] Re: Dipel/Worm - Arid_gardener Digest, Vol 50, Issue 32

[VYNNIE MCDANIELS]

Ellen, regarding your 'worms':

To add to Olin's recommendations, your use of dipel (which contains B.T. - Bacillus     Thuringiensis) is on the right track for application control. 

I believe your 'worm' to be the alfalfa caterpillar (which becomes a white/yellow butterfly).  
http://cals.arizona.edu/pubs/insects/az1045/

In using the pest control, your attempts may have failed due to our recent rains, strong winds, or just sheer volume of the insect infestation.

Manual removal will certainly help to mitigate the damage to your veggies.   They only feed for about 2-3 weeks, so you may be able to fight them off for that time.  Additionally, you may want to encouraging natural predators such as birds.  

I recently experienced an abundance of these green caterpillars in a client's garden where they desamated a 6'x15' area of blue sage.  Just when the insect began to migrate to other plants, the birds (mockingbirds, thrashers) discovered them, and the caterpillars were gone within a week.  (I replaced the blue sage with the very pest resistant lavender pinata.)

Hope this helps.

- VYNNIE
602.770.1613
terrafirmaaz at yahoo.com
www.vynniethegardener.com
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Today's Topics:

   1. Question from Home-Hort WWW page (bertinawright at comcast.net)
   2. Re: Dipel (Olin Miller)
   3. Question from Home-Hort WWW page (Bruce.Raden at mail.house.gov)
   4. Question from Home-Hort WWW page (bandb718 at msn.com)
   5. Fw: Gardenia problem (Robert and Bab Smith)


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Message: 2
Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2008 22:39:27 -0700
From: "Olin Miller" 
Subject: Re: [Arid_gardener] Dipel
To: "Ellen Stobaugh" ,
 
Message-ID: <000d01c892f1$e1191470$eacee144 at DJWC0N81>
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
 reply-type=original

You need first to identify the "worm", then read the pesticide label to
determine if your worm is listed.  Some Bt versions which are effective
against Lepidoptera species (butterfly and moth caterpillars) are not
effective against beetle grubs (coleoptera).

In the past, Master Gardeners have been asked not to recommend specific
pesticides.  For advice on  pesticides try calling the cooperative extension
and ask for a horticultural agent.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ
============================================


----- Original Message ----- From: "Ellen Stobaugh" 
Sent: Friday, March 28, 2008 3:21 PM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Dipel


> ... I have been having a lot of problems with worms in the garden. We've
> been using dipel, have tried the liquid mixed with water and the powder
> mixed with water (at different times) and nothing seems to be working. Has
> anyone else had this happen? Is it possible that the worms are becoming
> resistant? Is there anything else to do for the worms? Your help is
> greatly appreciated. Thanks!


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Message: 4
Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 08:37:18 -0700 (MST)
From: bandb718 at msn.com
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page
To: 
Message-ID: <200803311537.m2VFbIVG009427 at Ag.arizona.edu>


85327
bandb718 at msn.com

how to build a raised veggie  bed




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