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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2
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OP
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2 |
I have an infestation of army worms. There are thousands of them. They eat every blade of bermuda grass in about a week. The grass eventually recovers, then a new hatch of worms repeat the process. Controlling erosion is a priority and bermuda goes dormant in the winter so I don't want to go through any more time wasting cycles. I have perhaps 4 or 5 acres around the pond. The grass is new this year and just getting established.
The feed store recommends Sevin insecticide, but after reading the label I won't use it. (Extremely toxic to fish and everything else.) So for I haven't found any pond friendly insecticide.
I did treat with BT. Its "organic" so it doesn't hurt the fish, unfortunately the army worms laughed at it.
Anybody know of a reasonable treatment I should try?
Last edited by Vortex 4; 08/17/18 07:20 PM.
4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,344 Likes: 101
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Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,344 Likes: 101 |
Have you checked out diatomaceous earth?
That stuff is all natural and is effective on many insects. Should not phase the fish or wild life. I've only used it around chickens for mites and such, but it worked.
Fish on!, Noel
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284 Likes: 288
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284 Likes: 288 |
Vortex, I "think" my hay guy uses Talstar for army worms. Extremely costly and destructive little buggers.
We use DE in our chicken and goat sheds as well, but I don't think it works if wet.
AL
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 274 Likes: 5
Fingerling
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Fingerling
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 274 Likes: 5 |
I used Sevin and it worked well. Cough. wheeze.
The little SOBs attacked my new grass planted around my new fall last fall and did a lot of damage before I realized what was going on.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2
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OP
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2 |
Checked the label for Talstar.
"This pesticide is extremely toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates."
So that's out along with other Bifenthrin based products.
I've never had good luck with DE.
4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284 Likes: 288
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284 Likes: 288 |
Thanks for the head's up. I just checked, and Permethrin's toxic to fish as well.
AL
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892 Likes: 144
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892 Likes: 144 |
Research the active ingredient spinosad. It is listed as an organic controller of caterpillars. It has limited toxicity to aquatic life and is species specific. It is affordable, often sold under the title Monterey Garden Insect Spray.
I would say even with permethrin or bifenthrin products, you are applying to the grass not the pond and outside of application right before major downpour, the amount that would leach into the water would be minimal under normal conditions. In addition with the dilution factor of the pond water can there be much harm to the fish?
Bifenthrin can be toxic, but if dosed properly it can be a very effective and very selective toxin for carp/goldfish while leaving the other desirable fish. However it also can disrupt the aquatic insects and larva at the same time.
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2
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OP
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215 Likes: 2 |
That might work. It needs to be ingested, so it is too late f I r this hatch but I'll try it on the next cycle.
4 acre pond 32 ft deep within East Texas (Livingston) timber ranch. Filled (to the top of an almost finished dam) by Hurricane Harvey 9/17. Stocked with FHM, CNBG, RES 10/17. Added 35lbs RSC 3/18. 400 N LMB fingerlings 6/18
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952 Likes: 184 |
Vortex BT should work on any catapillar. I’ve used it many times on army worms on tomatoes. Maybe yours was “old”.
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,415 Likes: 793
Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
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Moderator Ambassador Field Correspondent Lunker
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,415 Likes: 793 |
BT israeli is the specific BT that works on mosquito larvae and can be put in ponds.
BT has a shelf life of 2 years.....
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13
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Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491 Likes: 13 |
put up some bird houses while you are at it
Mat Peirce 1.25 acre southeast Iowa pond LMB, BG, YP, WE, HSB, RES, BCP
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