Author Topic: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove  (Read 2024 times)

Mugenia

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 232
    • People's Socialist Republic of California USDA Zone 10
    • View Profile
Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« on: May 11, 2018, 03:30:35 PM »
Help, black beetles are eating our atemoya grove. We have about 1/2 acre of atemoya. What's the best organic way to deal with these beetles? I am thinking to tell my folks to use Tengard SRF on them.

What you ever seen this before?  What kind of beetles is this?

Thanks,

M
« Last Edit: May 11, 2018, 03:43:49 PM by Mugenia »

barath

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1114
    • Southern California, USDA Zone 10b
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #1 on: May 11, 2018, 05:53:30 PM »
Could you post a picture?  And how big are they?

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #2 on: May 11, 2018, 05:54:35 PM »
Post a pic.Are they a leaf eating diurnal Chrysomelid?

sahai1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 524
    • NST, THAILAND
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #3 on: May 11, 2018, 07:29:34 PM »
I got red beetles taking out my watermelon and pumpkin leaves, small black beetles mostly harmful because some predator wiped those out, maybe the sparrows.  Then I have nocturnal large thumb sized beetles who can take out all new mango flushes overnight.  Those I have not seen but away of the type from the poop they leave behind.

Ah, so how to get beetles?  I read online about these traps, so I made my own with a giant 50l tank and a funnel, in the tank put yeast, bagasse, and papaya.  It is supposed to ferment and give off a strong smell that attracts the beetles.  Day 3 the smell is not so strong yet, perhaps should have used white sugar, totally forgot bagasse will slow down the bacteria.

It is basically just an oversized white fly trap with this smelly lure.

Plenty of DIY videos on youtube to make these traps and white fly traps.

Mugenia

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 232
    • People's Socialist Republic of California USDA Zone 10
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #4 on: May 11, 2018, 08:45:38 PM »
Hi folks,

It's this thing. This happens on my parents' place not mine. What'd be your solution? I think Tengard SRF would take care of it. My dad wants to spray it with vinegar or something organic which I think it will not work.

Thanks,








sahai1

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 524
    • NST, THAILAND
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #5 on: May 11, 2018, 09:01:20 PM »
damnnn!  that tree looks about done..  Definitely start with some diatomaceous earth, blitz that area completely covering everything in this.

So_Cal_Mike

  • Zone 10a
  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 152
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #6 on: May 11, 2018, 09:03:31 PM »
Those are pill bugs, not beetles. I wonder if the problem is that the soil is too moist close to the trunk. It looks like the trees are being irrigated with soaker hoses? Try moving  the hoses farther out from the trunks, so that the soil is kept dry close to the trunk.
[size=85]Sunset Zone: 21 • USDA Zone: 10a • AHS Heat Zone: 6-7[/size]

Seanny

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1119
    • Garden Grove, Orange County, California, 10B
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #7 on: May 12, 2018, 03:34:38 AM »
We call them roly poly.

Rule 1 is no compost nor mulch nor fertilizer nor water at trunk.
There are only big roots at trunk to hold the tree up. They don't need extra help.

You should remove all those fertilizers and mulch around the trunk. Dump sandy loam there to pretty it up.
I use plaster sand from HD. It dry hard.

As for roly poly, you can pick them up and put in zip-lock bag. No need for chemicals.

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #8 on: May 12, 2018, 06:09:53 AM »
They are slaters which are isopods, a division of crustaceans.
http://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/slater-control/9429908
Yes water and mulch away from the trunk and explore a few ways of control.

Dangermouse01

  • Sr. Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 320
  • East coast, Central Florida
    • USA, Palm Bay, FL 32907, Zone 9B
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #9 on: May 12, 2018, 07:08:58 AM »
Hi folks,

It's this thing. This happens on my parents' place not mine. What'd be your solution? I think Tengard SRF would take care of it. My dad wants to spray it with vinegar or something organic which I think it will not work.

Thanks,







Doubt the pillbugs/roly poly were the cause of the damage to the trunks, but just showed up after the damage was already done by some other critter.

Mugenia

  • Member
  • ***
  • Posts: 232
    • People's Socialist Republic of California USDA Zone 10
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #10 on: May 12, 2018, 07:10:17 AM »
Thank you, everyone for your insights! Luckily,  only couple trees are affected.  You guys are right. There's a lot of wildlife around this place. My big old Caucasian Mountain dog has been killing and bringing moles and gophers back to the house almost daily.

That's why they are having issues over there. Plus heavy mulching and watering ain't help. Thanks.

« Last Edit: May 12, 2018, 08:48:28 AM by Mugenia »

Mike T

  • Zone 12a
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9014
  • Cairns,Nth Qld, Australia
    • Zone 12a
    • View Profile
Re: Help, black beetles eating my atemoya grove
« Reply #11 on: May 12, 2018, 07:14:05 AM »
Dangermouse is right and the real culprit is still at large no doubt.