Earth fleas are a common pest of indoor and garden plants. However, it is necessary to distinguish between ordinary blood-sucking fleas and earth fleas - these are completely different insects.
In fact, earthen fleas are not fleas at all, but beetle-beetles. They got their name thanks to their long hind legs, which allows them to jump high. Unlike ordinary fleas, earthy do not belong to predators, but to herbivores. They are safe for humans and pets, but they can cause significant damage to cultivated plants. Therefore, you should get rid of them as soon as you discover the appearance of earthen fleas in your own garden or in the house.
How to get rid of earthen fleas on the site, in the yard, in the house?
Noticing these pests is not so easy. As a rule, they are recognized for their presence on the damaged parts of plants, on the leaves of which there are noticeable large uneven spots, and on the stalk - holes. Fleas are omnivorous: they eat radish and beets, tomatoes and potatoes, eggplant and pepper. If the stems of your healthy-looking plant suddenly began to fade - take a closer look: perhaps it is the earth fleas that are to blame. Insects themselves, by the way, can be of different colors: it depends on the color of the leaves of the plant, which prevails in their "menu".
So, before you several ways how to get rid of an earthen flea with the help of chemical and folk remedies:
- Chemicals effective against earthen fleas are most often preparations having an enteric-contact spectrum of action. These are the popular means of "Aktar" , "Antizhuk", "Gaucho", "Regent", which, as practice shows, well help get rid of earthen fleas in the garden. They are usually sold in packets, the contents of which should be diluted in a specified amount of water, and then spray plants that are attacked by pests.
- There are insecticides in the form of aerosols - such as "Raid" and "Raptor". They are very convenient to handle seedlings and houseplants. After all, as is known, earthen fleas often appear in private houses and apartments along with contaminated soil brought from the garden. Often they "come" to the house with new plants bought. Noticing the beetle-beetle on the flower of the house, you must buy a spray against insects and treat the plant. Otherwise, earthen fleas, multiplying, can harm your entire room "greenhouse". It is also acceptable to use anti-cockroach remedies.
- Folk remedies are more sparing for plants and, moreover, are safe for humans. These include decoction of tansy, celandine, wormwood, tobacco. Many drive earthen fleas by spraying plants with a mixture of kerosene and benzene (in equal amounts), mixed with a large amount of water. And you can plant "fencing" around insecticides around garden crops.
As for physical methods, such as manual collection of insects and all sorts of baits, against earthen fleas they are absolutely ineffective. Do not waste power brushing the sleepy beetles on a litter or setting traps.
The first way is bad because at night insects burrow into the ground, and with dawn creep out and proceed to "breakfast", eating the greens of the nearest plant. In addition, it is not for nothing that they are called fleas - it is rather difficult to catch this highly hopping insect.
The second way - traps and baits - does not give effect for the simple reason that in the garden, as well as on the home window sill with flowers, earthen fleas themselves choose their food to taste - and there it is, as a rule, quite a lot. Therefore, better to use chemical and folk methods of fighting earth fleas - now you know how to get rid of these pests.