You can lose the entire grape harvest simply by not noticing the appearance of a tick on the bushes in a timely manner. To combat this pest, preventive measures and timely treatments with ready-made or home-made preparations should be combined.
Types and description of pests
There are several varieties of mites that can be found on grapes. One of the most common is vine spider mite. It looks like a small insect with a length of 0,4 to 0,6 millimeters, whose color can be either yellow or gray-green. The pest hibernates in a pile of fallen leaves or right inside the bark of a shrub.
When the first leaves appear, it moves to the green part of the grapes. Already at a temperature of +13°C, a female spider mite can lay eggs – from 70 to 140 at a time.
A week later, the hatched larvae begin to actively consume the juice of the leaves and shoots of the culture. Poisonous saliva leads to deformation of the surface at the puncture site. Small swellings also form on the outside. After a couple of weeks, the larvae grow into sexually mature individuals, and yellow spots form on the leaf blades, after which they dry out. In addition, the lower part of the sheets is covered with a thick layer of cobwebs. It should be mentioned that the spider mite first multiplies on low-growing weeds, and then moves to the grapes themselves.
European red tick used to live only on apple trees, but today it is increasingly found on vines as well. After overwintering under the kidneys, insects begin to multiply actively with the end of spring frosts. Female pests have a reddish tint, while males have a green-brown tint. The eggs of the mite are also painted in a reddish tone, so their large clutches are visible even to the naked eye. The leaves of the damaged shrub gradually acquire a brown-golden hue.
Grape felt itch considered not so dangerous pest, although the most common for this crop. After wintering in the kidneys, an insect 0,2 mm in size with an oval white or yellow body moves to the lower surface of the leaf blade and begins to feed on its contents. The other side is covered with whitish concave formations of fluffy “felt”. Nevertheless, the leaves do not die from such an impact, but continue to cope with their main life activity.
Grape leaf mite is a very small parasite, which greatly complicates the fight against it. For the winter, the insect hides in the kidneys, whose contents it consumes. In grapes under the attack of this mite, shoots deteriorate: they become weak and crooked, and often dry out before they have time to grow.
Turkestan tick becomes visible on grapes in the first half of summer. Fertile females lay almost 500 eggs per season.
Another type of mite on this crop is kidneycausing severe damage to the vine. During the summer, about 6-9 generations manage to visit the bush, feeding on the contents of the kidneys and damaging the rudiments.
Signs of defeat
The fact that grapes suffer from mites is indicated by the appearance on the leaves light spots, usually on the outside. Over time, these formations change their shade to brown, and after that the plates themselves twist, shrink and fall off. The affected leaves are also covered on the inside with a dense cobweb – its maximum concentration is found on the stems and internodes. If you look closely, then right on it you will be able to see moving points – the pests themselves. When attacked by a red tick, the leaves quickly acquire a bronze color.
In addition, the surface is covered with a reddish coating of insect eggs.
Methods of struggle
Each gardener decides for himself whether to treat the plantings with chemicals or limit himself to spraying with folk remedies. If the infection has already become widespread, then it is better to combine several methods.
Agrotechnical
Agricultural methods of control include sufficient irrigation of bushes under good pressure, as well as burning heavily affected bushes and leaves. Spraying plantings with soapy water will also reduce pest populations. In grape beds, it is important to regularly remove weeds. This procedure plays a particularly important role at the beginning of the season.
chemical
In case of a serious defeat, it is necessary to process grapes from parasites aggressive insecticides. For example, 75% colloidal sulfur is suitable for this purpose. This substance, penetrating into insect cells, forms hydrogen sulfide, which is a poison. Experienced gardeners for this purpose recommend the use of sulfur-containing Tiovit Jet or Kumulus. A big plus of sulfur is that it can be applied even the day before harvest. Spraying is best carried out on a warm but not hot day, as high temperatures lead to a deterioration in the required properties of sulfur.
Clear concentrate Fufanon destroys insects, but does not harm the plants themselves. The insecticide begins to act after 30-60 minutes, but only on condition that the drug does not drain from the leaf plates. Treatment Bi-58 held in the summer, during the growing season. The insecticide is diluted with water, after which it is used to spray the crop. The desired effect also gives Omaytresistant to sun and rain. The active effect of the drug persists for 3 days.
Aggressive “Actellic” в large doses can have a negative effect even on humans, so it should be used with great care. Its action begins in 10-120 minutes, and lasts for a couple of weeks. The same can be said about “Vertimek”, which should not be used during bud break.
It should be mentioned that when working with insecticides, it is necessary to protect the respiratory tract, as well as skin and clothing.
Biological
The best known biological product is “Fitoverm”. After its use, unlike insecticides, the fruits are allowed to be collected already on the 4th day. The tool effectively fights mites, but its protective properties do not differ in duration, and the culture requires several treatments during the season. You can use “Fitoverm” immediately after flowering. Another high-quality biological product is called “Aktofit”. Its use is recommended in calm, dry and moderately sunny weather. Processing is most conveniently carried out using a fine sprayer.
People’s
Treatment with folk remedies against ticks is most suitable for the early stage of the spread of the problem. A kilogram of dry black henbane is soaked for 12 hours in 10 liters of water. Before use, 40 grams of soap chips are added to the liquid, and the whole mixture is filtered. The finished composition must be used with caution for treatment, since all parts of the plant are poisonous. It is customary to sprinkle it on a bush, although some gardeners prefer to simply pollinate the grapes with dry bleached grapes.
Another very effective tool is dandelion. Its fresh leaves in the amount of 500 grams are poured with a bucket of heated water and infused for about 3 hours. The finished mixture is filtered and combined with a soap solution. It is necessary to immediately spray the grapes with a home-made preparation, since it is not allowed to store it. Processing is carried out during the period of bud break and after flowering.
Medication will also help get rid of the tick. camomile. A kilogram of dried grass or 3 kilograms of fresh grass is combined with 10 liters of hot water. After insisting the mixture for 12 hours and combining it with soap, you can treat the plant by spraying. Such processing is allowed to be carried out 2-3 times.
By means of real tobacco There are two ways to deal with pests. The first involves fumigating the beds, and the second is spraying the bushes. To prepare a medicinal product, 400 grams of the main ingredient will have to be poured with 10 liters of water, insisted for about a day, and then boiled for a couple of hours. The filtered mixture is supplemented with soap and poured with another 10 liters of water.
If it grows in the garden horseradish, then it can also be used to control insects. Leaves with shoots will need to be crushed in a meat grinder. The resulting mass fills about 1/3 of the bucket, and the remaining space is filled with water. After insisting the solution for about an hour, it can be used for evening or morning spraying.
Landing processing may be effective with ammonia. The drug in the amount of 25 milliliters will be enough to dilute in 10 liters of water, and then add soap chips for better adhesion. As a rule, a single treatment is enough for grapes, but repeated spraying can be arranged after a couple of weeks.
Preventive measures
To protect the vines from the appearance of a tick, you should take preventive measures in a timely manner. It is very important to destroy last year’s foliage, fallen bark, cut shoots, debris – that is, all objects that pests choose for wintering. In spring and autumn, the soil around the beds should be dug up, and in the hot months – cultivated “Akarin” or “Neoron”. Damaged foliage should be quickly removed from bushes so that ticks do not have the opportunity to crawl from bottom to top. During the growing season, you will have to make sure that the vine does not come into contact with the ground – it is more correct to tie it up.
Fertilization or insecticide treatment should be carried out according to the instructions in order to avoid intoxication of the crop. Certainly, regularly need to inspect plantings for the presence of insects.
Acquired seedlings must be quarantined before planting in open ground. It is equally important to regularly spray the bushes, as this pest prefers dryness.
For information on how to competently deal with grape mites, see the following video.
