RE: RE: Borers - My personal observations

Hi,
Having said all this and sort of agree where do
you purchase the 'Imidacloprid '?\
Char, New Berlin WI

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-iris@hort.net
[o*@hort.net] On Behalf Of skyland
1
Sent: Wednesday, August 03, 2005 9:03 PM
To: iris@hort.net
Subject: [iris] RE: Borers - My personal
observations


Just thought I would add my two cents on borers,
for what its worth. I was 
plagued for the past several years, even after
using the Merit granules 
liberally sprinkled. However, this year I was
almost borer free (I think I 
found about 8 all season, compared to probably
150+ last year). The only 
thing different this year was that I sprayed
around and right on each 
rhizome with the Imidacloprid (I also used the
granules). I think that the 
granules can just sit there and not enough
dissolves and get into the 
rhizome. I think in human terms its the same
difference between getting a 
shot from a doctor and taking a pill.
I also noticed that borers prefer the periphery of
the iris bed, not the 
center, although in my case, not necessarily near
the bushes.  You would 
think they would be attracted to the heavier
concentrations of iris, but not 
true. This leads me to believe the borer probably
need to leave the iris bed 
(to mate in some exotic borer love ritual?) and
later return for egg laying. 
Not being strong winged, they settle for the first
iris they find. As for 
borer preferring large rhizomes, I am sure they
do, but I  don't think they 
have the brains to go house-hunting, so to speak.
I have had whole clumps of 
pardancanda (an irid with very small rhizomes)
totally devastated by borer. 
They probably eat them like you would eat a bag of
popcorn. When ready to 
pupate I think they can travel distances too. I
have found pupa in areas 10 
feet away from the nearest iris rhizome. I also
think they prefer non pbf 
iris, as they are less frequently attacked. At
Presby I have seen whole rows 
of pbf iris spared and the next row full of
borer..so they definitely have 
their preferences
Laetitia.

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