In article ,
enigma wrote:

Billy wrote in

ct.net.au:

http://www.hort.uconn.edu/IPM/greenh.../fngnatser.htm

how'd we get to fuhgus gnats from Japanese beetles?

Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, sold under the
trade name of Gnatrol, is most effective against the young
first instar larvae. The bacteria must be ingested by the
larva, after which a toxic protein crystal is released into
the insect's gut. Larvae stop feeding and die. Gnatrol is
only toxic to larvae for two days. Repeat applications,
i.e. two or three applications at high rates, may be needed
to provide effective control.

well, i'll keep this in mind for when i get a greenhouse.
we currently use Bti in mosquito dunks in the stock tanks.
supposedly they kill blackfly larvae as well as mosquito
larvae, but i don't know that i quite believe that claim.
blackflies breed in running water, not standing water, so how
would one make sure they're exposed to the Bti?
at any rate, i'm hoping this doesn't confuse the OP because
Milky Spore (which is not Bti), once you get it into the soil,
kills the Japanese beetle larvae for 10+ years before you need
to reapply. if i was the OP & thought i'd just learned that
Milky Spore only lasts a few weeks, then saw that a 50 pound
drum costs $1300... i'd give up right there! but if you
consider that that 50 pound drum covers over 5 acres &
protects for over 10 *years*, it's actually very reasonable.
BTW, it also kills the larvae of Oriental beetles, which are
even *nastier* than Japanese beetles. they eat the leaves off
your plants during the day & at night they burrow under the
plants & eat the roots.
lee

Going just a tad OT, can you recommend any introductory book for
spinning and weaving?
--

Billy

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