Beware Of The Cranberry Girdler

By Neoma Archer

When you say cranberry, what do you usually think of? For most people, they would think of a wonderful fruit, really delicious juice, some other wonderful eats or drinks that have been made from the fresh fruit. However, if you do say cranberry girdler, what would you think about? Some may actually think of an actual food which has been made using the fruit. Oh I am pretty sure you actually thought of that one too. But the truth is, when cranberry is as sweet and as delicious and as wonderful as you can think of, the cranberry girdler can actually the total opposite.

What are cranberry girdlers you may ask? Well, the thing is, cranberry girdlers are actually insects. They look like worms though they are not really such. They are usually gray or dirty white in color and have a head that is brown-orange in color. It is just around 3/4 of an inch long and they bear no markings that are distinct to them. They may be small and look harmless but they can bring much chaos to your lawn or your garden. Now that is something that you do not want to happen after all the effort you had put into it.

You may not actually notice that your lawn or your garden already has cranberry girdlers in them. See, these insects actually work their way right in the important parts of the grass and they stay there. You will find them usually in the crown of the grass and even in the roots. With that, they stay away from sight but they really do much damage. They actually start taking in the nutrients from the plants so much so that the grass starts to have less of what it needs to be healthy. The grass then withers and browns up and when you try to pull it out, it can be easily done and it would be as if you were just pulling out a rug from your homes floor.

Aside from the sign that the grass is turning brown, you will also notice that when you pull out the brown parts of the grass, you will see what is beneath it. When you see larvae below, then you have a cranberry girdler infestation. Do not take that for granted because they easily work their way through the crown and roots of the plants and the next thing you know, there are no more green patches. Instead, all of what you see is brown. Now that would not be a good sight for your eyes.

You can start applying insecticide on the brown areas and all other areas which are affected by the insect. And then make sure that you do weekly inspections to see if it is indeed working. If not, continue to apply. You will know that you have done it right when you no longer see the brown spots spreading and you will also see the insects lying dead already on the soil. - 29857

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