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terraferma
Stranger

Registered: 05/30/11
Posts: 69
Last seen: 1 year, 15 days
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HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings!
#14534713 - 05/30/11 07:46 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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I have a serious problem with one of my trays of san pedros, which are 2 months old seedlings. Everyday for the last week or so, there has been a few of them that lay flat on the ground, without roots.
I didn't know the reason why until I noticed that some of them had become transparent, with only the skin and spikes remaining, the flesh inside having been eaten. I quickly found one of the culprits next to one of its victims: it was a slimy, short, extremely thin and transparent worm.
Also, I have found that if I dig the earth next to the ones with the roots cut off I can usually find another one of those worms. Since yesterday I've found and killed about 5 or 6 worms.
I have of course isolated the tray from the others, in a different room. There are 200-300 seedlings in that tray, and I don't want to lose them all! What do you suggest I do? ...That I just keep an eye on it on a regular basis and keep on pulling out the worms? ...Or that I use insecticide?
I have the following insecticide: COMPO Natural (it's organic), they say it works for aphids, cochineal, mites and white flies. Would it work against these worms?
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naum



Registered: 10/09/07
Posts: 4,069
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: terraferma] 1
#14535062 - 05/30/11 10:00 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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It sounds like you have fungus gnats specifically it's their larvae that are giving lots of trouble. You need to kill all of the larvae first, but then you need to prevent them from coming back capturing or eliminating the flying adults that lay eggs; sticky yellow traps are quite good as is increased airflow.
I can't find the ingredients in the product you are using, but the most effective natural pesticide against the larvae would be a Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (often abbreviated Bti) containing product. The subspecies israelensis is very important because only that is effective against larvae instead of caterpillars. I'd imagine several non-organic pesticides would work well. Avoid oil containing products for seedlings.
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terraferma
Stranger

Registered: 05/30/11
Posts: 69
Last seen: 1 year, 15 days
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: naum]
#14535229 - 05/30/11 10:43 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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Thanks so much for the input. I've indeed seen little flying insects over that tray. I will catch them when I see them, and keep killing all the larvae that I see.
I'm going to look for insecticide containing Bti. The one I've got at the moment has got these ingredients: Abamectina + Piretrunas (extract of pelitre).
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just me
Friend



Registered: 07/01/07
Posts: 9,745
Loc: IL/MO/FL/TX/HI/OR
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: terraferma]
#14535278 - 05/30/11 10:55 AM (12 years, 9 months ago) |
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a h2o2 + h2o solution might kill the eggs in the soil
if you think its in your soil source too, bake all of it 
i had a soil sterilizer for awhile, and never needed it, til i started having a bunch of leftover soil from harvested pots. re using it by itself, seemed to be a lot of trouble, but sterilizing it, and just adding it for body worked well?
that didnt have anything to do with anything...
if you really think its worms, get some parasitic wasps 
some plants to attract them are: yarrows, dill, fennel caraway, coriander, sunflowers!, chamomille, lemon balm, tansy, crimson thyme
a few nice repellent plants are: mint, chives, garlic, marigolds, nasturtium, sages, catnip oregano, etc
if you can keep those around any sensitive plants, you're likely to prevent the problem, after stopping it
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terraferma
Stranger

Registered: 05/30/11
Posts: 69
Last seen: 1 year, 15 days
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: just me]
#14539558 - 05/31/11 07:05 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I do happen to have coriander growing in a pot at home but it never attracted any parasitic wasp... I guess that's because I live in the city center.
Thanks for pointing me out the hydrogene peroxide solution, I've just done some reading about it and it seems indeed a good solution. I will try that and/or the Bti.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: terraferma]
#14539576 - 05/31/11 07:12 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I've used Schultz houseplant spray against fungus gnats with great results.
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Zaka
Explorer



Registered: 04/12/09
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Last seen: 10 years, 4 months
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Re: HELP! Tiny worms are eating my san pedro seedlings! [Re: Doc_T]
#14542093 - 05/31/11 06:45 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Irie, I remember someone talking about vinegar works to attract. Diatemacous earth in the soil will kill larve. & pepperment tea as a spray... Respect, Z
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