Trichogramma. Beneficial insects (entomophages)

15.02.2018

Hello, dear subscribers, readers and just visiting the blog out of curiosity dachka-ogorodik.ru! And again we turn to the topic of biological plant protection, but now let's talk about entomophages, namely the egg-eater trichogram will be discussed further.

The female Trichogramma lays her eggs in pest eggs, preferably in freshly laid ones. The larvae feed on the contents of the host egg, and by the time it pupates, the egg of the host insect acquires a characteristic black color with a bluish or brown tint. Adult individuals hatched from pupae gnaw holes in its shell and go outside. Trichogramma individuals are born sexually mature.

Immediately after leaving the host egg, the Trichogramma mates, then searches for and infects the eggs of the pest. The female lays up to 50 eggs, most of them in the first day of life. AT natural conditions without nutrition, the trichogram lives 2-4 days, with nectar nutrition up to 15 days, and on average - 8 days.

The development, reproduction and activity of Trichogramma are favored by temperatures ranging from 18 to 30 degrees, relative humidity of 60-95%. Trichogramma is photophilous, especially active when sunlight but avoid direct sunlight. It moves through the plant "on foot" and makes short flights. Within one generation of the host pest, the Trichogramma is able to settle within a radius of up to 30 meters, and with wind it can spread to a greater distance.

A positive feature of the trichogram is the speed of its reproduction, which lasts on average from 8 days at a temperature of 30 degrees to 21 days at a temperature of 18 degrees. For one generation scoop Trichogramma gives 2-3 generations.

During the season, from 8 to 12 generations of trichogramma develop. She has no permanent owner. In the spring, it flies out earlier than its owners and more often dies due to the lack of pest eggs. Usually in natural conditions spring period scoop eggs are infected with natural trichogramma by 1-10%.

To increase the number of trichogramma artificially bred in biolaboratories and at the beginning of the laying of the pest. In arid regions, Trichogramma should first of all be used in irrigated agriculture, where the microclimate contributes to the reservation of the meadow moth, harmful scoops and is favorable for the reproduction of Trichogramma. To replace chemical treatments on vegetable and field crops, it is effective to combine the application of Trichogramma with the use of microbiological preparations.

Trichogramma Release Method

The only difficulty in using Trichogramma is that it cannot be stored for a long time. However, this is not necessary, since it can be ordered via the Internet without problems and received by delivery by mail or by a road carrier. Trichogramma is packaged in well-ventilated paper bags. By the way, the prices for trichograms are quite small (in Ukraine, about 50-100 hryvnias), and the effect of its use will remain for the whole season.

At the end of the growing season, their numbers increase significantly, and they can cope with pests even without additional release. This becomes especially relevant with the modern outbreak of the number of scoops, which literally ate tomatoes in many areas. The release rate of Trichogramma per 1 ha depends on the number of pests and is recommended from 1 to 2 grams per our standard 6 acres.

It is necessary to settle the trichogramma into areas after it hatches! To do this, the packages are placed in a warm room until the mass hatching of the egg-eater, which usually occurs on the 2-3rd day after receiving the trichogram from the laboratory. The release should be made in warm weather, preferably in the morning (from 7 to 11 hours) and in the evening (from 17 to 20 hours). The trichogram is most active from 7 am to 11 am.

Before release, wilted leaves (amaranth, wormwood, acacia) or pieces of crumpled paper (but not glossy!) Are placed in a jar with a wide mouth or a bucket. Carefully unfolding the package, swept the trichogram into a jar and tied the neck with a dense cloth to prevent the spread of the trichogram. It takes 3-4 hours for it to spread over leaves or paper in a jar. After that, it can be laid out on the site.

When the trichogram is released at 50 points, 40-50 leaves or crumpled paper are placed in the jar. Leaves (pieces of crumpled paper) must be removed carefully so as not to shake off or damage the trichogram. If it is not possible to make a trichogram at the scheduled time due to weather conditions (strong wind, rain), then it can be stored in a refrigerator or cellar at a temperature of +2-4 degrees, no more than two days.

So that the trichogram does not undergo mechanical damage during transportation, opening the packages, care must be taken. It is forbidden to place a package with a trichogram under direct sunlight, since the biomaterial can become steamed and die.

A very active small (0.3-0.6 mm) insect, belongs to the Hymenoptera order.

Trichogramma lays its eggs in the egg of an insect pest. Developing, its larva-calf eats out the contents of the egg of the host insect. Adult trichograms feed only on plant nectar and dew. Therefore, to keep and attract Trichogramma in the garden, it is desirable to sow more umbrella plants and form green hedges. Trichogramma really does not like pesticides, which simply kill her.

Trichogram application

Awakened insects can be fed for some time by putting a cotton swab dipped in water solution honey or sugar (1 teaspoon of sugar per 50 ml of water).

For a more effective settlement of your site with a trichogram, it is advisable to give this insect time to settle on the leaves of dried acacia, or at least on crushed crumpled paper. To do this, we place the trichogram and acacia / paper leaves in a glass jar with a capacity of 0.5-1 l, cover with coarse calico! fabric (the insect can crawl into the weave of chintz fabric without problems) and stand for some time until it settles (determined visually). Then carefully (with tweezers, for example) lay out the leaves with the trichogram on trees, bushes or other plants of interest, but not on the ground!

Release rate: 100.000-400.000 individuals/ha, i.e. - 10-40 thousand. individuals per 10 hundred.

Multiplicity of releases: every 7 days after the beginning of the summer of pests throughout the growing season, since the Trichogramma selects freshly laid pest eggs for laying eggs.

Supplied in packages.

Weight - 0.5g

Number of individuals - 40.000 pcs.

Trichogramma is packaged in paper bags from 1 to 20 gr.

1 gram contains 80 thousand individuals. Packets with contents are placed in warm room for mass hatching of Trichogramma, it usually occurs in 3-5 days.

For uniform distribution across the field per 1 ha, a trichogram is produced at least at 50 points, and on one fruit-bearing tree it is released from four sides to a height of 1.5-2 m. paper. When the insects crawl over the leaves, these leaves with trichogramma are laid out on plants.

The release of the trichogram should be carried out in warm, calm weather. Under adverse weather conditions, the hatched Trichogramma is placed in a refrigerator with a temperature of 2 ° + 4 ° C, where it can be stored for up to 5 days, after which it must be released into nature.

Care must be taken to avoid the death of the trichogram during transportation and opening the packages.

For production use Trichogramma is released in two terms: the first - at the very beginning of oviposition of each generation of the pest, the second - at the beginning of mass oviposition.

Trichogram release should be carried out in warm, calm weather in the early morning or evening hours.

Release rate

The release rate of Trichogramma depends on the type of pest, its abundance, fertility and the number of eggs on the plant.

Perennial grasses - 40-80 thousand individuals / ha

Peas - 80-120 thousand individuals / ha

Beet. potatoes - 40-80 thousand individuals / ha

Cabbage (3 times processing) - 120-320 thousand individuals / ha

apple tree, plum (2 times) - 1 g per 4 trees (20 thousand individuals / 1 tree)

Care must be taken to avoid the death of trichogramma during transportation and opening of packages. Compliance with the methodology and norms for the release of Trichogramma guarantees high efficiency.

E Every year, a farmer needs to protect a potential corn crop from pests. Pests such as stem moth, scoops are especially fond of corn. They can cause uncounted centners of the crop, so they need to be neutralized in corn crops. To do this, there are chemical and biological methods of control. Today we are talking about effective biological method- the introduction of trichogramma (Trichogramma). What is a trichogram, how and when to make it?

H The most harmful to corn are stem borer, cotton, grain and other types of scoops. In the first half of summer, pests pupate, mate and lay eggs. At this time, we must track the appearance of pests and predict the laying of eggs. It should be noted that these periods do not coincide with different types pests - the stem borer lays its eggs earlier on corn than the cotton bollworm. How to predict the appearance and identify pests, we wrote in.

What is a trichogram?

AT agriculture use the usual and diapasic trichogram. The usual trichogram is revived after the introduction at the same time, and the diapasic one - at certain intervals several times. If a diapasic trichogram is entered, then the protection period will be longer.

P Trichogramma life span in field conditions is 2-5 days. The female lays most of the eggs in the first three days, destroying the eggs of corn pests.

When and how much to pay?

P The period of application of Trichogramma is determined by the appearance of pests. 7 days after the appearance of the first scoops in pheromone traps or troughs, corn crops should be examined. If you have found the first egg-laying of pests, make a trichogram within 2 days!

R Assellennaya Trichogramma is partially reproduced in natural conditions, so the effect of one application of Trichogramma is valid for about 10 days. After 10-12 days, the next application should be carried out in order to prolong the protection of the crop from the pest.

E The effective application rate of Trichogramma is 100 thousand per hectare. If there are many pests, the rate should be increased. If you find 2-4 clutches of pest eggs per 100 plants, then the application rate is 100 thousand / ha. If 5-7 clutches - 150 thousand / ha, 8-10 clutches - 200 thousand / ha.

How to make a trichogram?

T The rihogram can be unfolded manually and brought in with a hang glider.

H To decompose a Trichogramma by hand, the Trichogramma is thrown into a jar and the jar is filled with material that will decompose on the field. For example, acacia leaves. Then the contents of the jar are applied per hectare.

D To make a trichogram with a hang glider, it must have special equipment. Application is carried out at a height of no more than 10 meters, the width between the aisles of the hang glider should be no more than 25 meters.

M The material used for filling is semolina. It is also needed to check equipment settings and perform application control. For a trial application on 10 hectares, you need 100 grams of semolina and 10 grams of Trichogramma. In addition, 2 extra grams of semolina are placed in the container, and after a trial application, the same amount of excess semolina should remain there. If this happens, it means that the hang glider application equipment is set up correctly and Trichogramma can be applied to the entire area.

To become an eco-farmer and go to organic farming stop using pesticides. To do this, they must be replaced with biological plant protection products, and just read about one of these in our material.

It's no secret that the excessive use of pesticides, which began with the times, has led to environmental degradation. In this regard, organic farming began to gain more and more popularity, in which only organic fertilizers and means of protection are used.

How it works?

From May to August, pests on various plants begin to pupate, mate and lay their eggs. At this time, you need to track the appearance of pests and predict egg deposition. It should also be taken into account that several outbreaks of insect activity may occur during this period. For example, the stem borer develops on corn before the cotton bollworm, so crops have to be processed several times.

In agriculture, conventional and range trichograms are used. The regular one respawns simultaneously after being applied, while the ranged one respawns several times at certain intervals. Thus, if a ranged trichogram is entered, then the protection period will be longer.

The life expectancy of a trichogram in the field is 2-5 days. Most of the eggs are laid by the female in the first three days, while destroying the eggs of pests.

When and how much to pay?

The period of application of the trichogram is determined by the appearance of pests on various plants. At the same time, there are also standard terms for its introduction, at this time the pests are most active. So, for example, in mid-May, a trichogram should be applied for crops of wheat, barley and peas, at the end of the month - to protect cabbage, pepper, tomato and sugar beets. The insect is also used to process corn and sunflowers in late June and July, respectively. It must be remembered that after the first detection of pest eggs, the trichogram must be applied for two days.

If cultures are subject to a large number of different pests, then several "settlements" of trichograms can be made. For example, such plants include corn, cabbage and sunflower. Basically, two approaches are made for processing crops and the difference between the resettlement takes 10-14 days. The exception is orchards- in this case, trichograms are sprayed three times with the same interval.

The effective application rate of Trichogramma is 100-200 thousand individuals per hectare. Depending on the number of pests and the type of plant, the desired level of application of the protective agent in this range may fluctuate. For example, if you do one resettlement, then for the treatment of sunflower crops you need to apply from 100 thousand trichograms per hectare, two resettlements - 60 thousand each. This is the optimal level, but if there are a lot of pests, then the norms can be increased.

Trichogramma will cost you 25-30 UAH per 100 thousand individuals. But at the same time, the cost of its introduction must also be taken into account.

How to make a trichogram?

Trichogramma can be resettled manually, as well as with the help of drones, drones, airplanes or a hang glider. The first method is effective only on small fields. To decompose a trichogram by hand, it is thrown into a jar, which is filled with decomposing material. For example, acacia leaves. Then the contents of the jar are applied per hectare.

It is important to remember that Trichogramma must be stored in a refrigerator at a temperature of 2-4 ° C before making. Having taken out of the cold, eggs with insects are kept for 1-1.5 days at room temperature. The awakened trichogram is visible to the naked eye - it intensively runs around the bag. Only after she is hatched can it already be settled across the field.

To make a trichogram using flying equipment, it must be equipped with a tank with material and a sprayer. In this case, the introduction is carried out at a height of not more than 10 meters. The material used for filling is semolina. It is also needed to check equipment settings and perform application control. For a trial application on 10 hectares, you need 100 g of semolina and 10 g of Trichogramma. In addition, two extra grams of semolina are placed in the container, and after a trial application, the same amount of excess semolina should remain there. If this happened, it means that the application equipment is set up correctly and Trichogramma can be applied to the entire area.

Is it profitable to make a trichogram and where is it used?

To understand how beneficial the use of trichograms, let's turn to such a concept as biological effectiveness. In Ukraine, this figure is at the level of 65-75%. That is, 65-75% of pests will be destroyed if a trichogram is used to treat crops. This is a good result, because, for example, in Germany, the biological effectiveness of this insect is . The most effective trichogram can be used in Australia and Brazil - 80-100%.

Mostly Ukrainians use Trichogramma to protect vegetables and grain crops. In some other countries it is used for other plants. For example, in Vietnam it protects tobacco, in Australia - plums and cotton, in Egypt - sugar cane and olives, in India - citrus fruits. But there is one crop that is processed by this method in almost every country - corn.

Eco-friendly products are much more expensive than conventional products. And one way to increase farmers' profits could be to switch to eco-products. And the use of trichograms is the first step towards organic products that will save you from the chemical treatment of crops.