Pond Boss Magazine
https://www.pondboss.com/images/userfiles/image/20130301193901_6_150by50orangewhyshouldsubscribejpeg.jpg
Advertisment
Newest Members
Shotgun01, Dan H, Stipker, LunkerHunt23, Jeanjules
18,451 Registered Users
Forum Statistics
Forums36
Topics40,901
Posts557,098
Members18,452
Most Online3,612
Jan 10th, 2023
Top Posters
esshup 28,415
ewest 21,475
Cecil Baird1 20,043
Bill Cody 15,110
Who's Online Now
11 members (H20fwler, nvcdl, esshup, Bing, Fishingadventure, Dylanfrely, Angler8689, Sunil, jpsdad, azteca, BillyE), 679 guests, and 233 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
V
OP Offline
V
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
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 2,344
Likes: 101
Offline
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
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
Moderator
Offline
Moderator
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

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 274
Likes: 5
R
Fingerling
Offline
Fingerling
R
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.


[Linked Image]
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
V
OP Offline
V
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
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,284
Likes: 288
Moderator
Offline
Moderator
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

Joined: May 2013
Posts: 2,892
Likes: 144
C
Offline
C
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.

Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 215
Likes: 2
V
OP Offline
V
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
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,952
Likes: 184
P
Offline
P
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”.

Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 28,415
Likes: 793
Moderator
Ambassador
Field Correspondent
Lunker
Online Content
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.....


www.hoosierpondpros.com


http://www.pondboss.com/subscribe.asp?c=4
3/4 to 1 1/4 ac pond LMB, SMB, PS, BG, RES, CC, YP, Bardello BG, (RBT & Blue Tilapia - seasonal).
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 491
Likes: 13
M
Offline
M
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

Link Copied to Clipboard
Today's Birthdays
Bob Lusk, GaryK, GrizzFan, PhotographerDave
Recent Posts
Fungus infection on fish
by nvcdl - 03/28/24 06:07 PM
Can anyone ID these minnows?
by Dylanfrely - 03/28/24 05:43 PM
Working on a .5acre disaster, I mean pond.
by Sunil - 03/28/24 05:33 PM
Relative weight charts in Excel ? Calculations?
by jpsdad - 03/28/24 04:51 PM
1 year after stocking question
by esshup - 03/28/24 04:48 PM
Yellow Perch Spawn 2024
by H20fwler - 03/28/24 04:29 PM
Alum vs Bentonite/Lathanum for Phosphorus Removal?
by FishinRod - 03/28/24 04:23 PM
New 2 acre pond stocking plan
by LANGSTER - 03/28/24 03:49 PM
Happy Birthday Bob Lusk!!
by ewest - 03/28/24 03:37 PM
Paper-shell crayfish and Japanese snails
by esshup - 03/28/24 10:39 AM
Brooder Shiners and Fry, What to do??
by Freg - 03/28/24 09:42 AM
Dewatering bags seeded to form berms?
by Justin W - 03/28/24 08:19 AM
Newly Uploaded Images
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
Eagles Over The Pond Yesterday
by Tbar, December 10
Deer at Theo's 2023
Deer at Theo's 2023
by Theo Gallus, November 13
Minnow identification
Minnow identification
by Mike Troyer, October 6
Sharing the Food
Sharing the Food
by FishinRod, September 9
Nice BGxRES
Nice BGxRES
by Theo Gallus, July 28
Snake Identification
Snake Identification
by Rangersedge, July 12

� 2014 POND BOSS INC. all rights reserved USA and Worldwide

Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5