My fruit trees have insects called curculio that destroy all the fruit when it is about an inch long. The agricultural department says the only thing you can use to kill this long nose insect is serious poisons. Does anyone know of a homemade organic way of getting rid of these little creatures?
My father had orchards of fruit trees and used some kind of oil and ashes for a spray that he made himself, but I don't know what it was. But I know that he was an organic person and what he did worked.
Hardiness Zone: 5a
By gayleemchugh from Parsonsfield, ME
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Curculio
In contrast to some nimble beetles that dart under leaves for cover, the plum curculio is sluggish and easy to dislodge from its host plant. Gardeners can take advantage of these traits by shaking the pests loose from fruit trees with the onset of blossoming. Lay a sheet or tarp under the infected tree, and knock the branches gently with a broomstick. Collect the beetles as they drop onto the sheet and drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
Breaking the life cycle is critical to controlling the plum curculio, especially in orchards. Simply collecting all fruit as it falls to the ground each day prevents the plum curculio larvae from burrowing into the ground to complete the metamorphosis into mature beetles.
Read more at Suite101: Control Plum Curculios in the Organic Garden: Kill or Repel Fruit Insect Pests Without Chemicals or Pesticides organic-vegetable-gardens.suite101.../
Maybe your dad sprayed with soap and water. Good luck.
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