Re: TB iris borers

From: "Maureen Mark (Zone 4b Ottawa)" <mmark@home.com>

In addition to all the advice already given, I suggest digging everything out at
this late stage in the season.  You will find either huge larvae deep in the
rhizome or pupae (reddish brown sac) in the soil.  Cut out the borer in the
rhizomes, sift the soil to remove all debris and pupae and replant.

Maureen Mark
Ottawa, Ontario (zone 4)
mmark@ottawa.com

Irisborer@aol.com wrote:

> From: Irisborer@aol.com
>
> >>>First,  LillyDilan@aol.com wrote:
>  >
>  > I am desperate for a way to get rid of iris borers, they have invaded
> garden I
>  > cut them out of plants but they are in the soil.
>
> >> Then, In a message dated 8/31/1998 12:57:18 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
> croyer@fastrans.net writes:
>
>     Now is about the time the worm turns,into a flying creature, to lay
>  its eggs and begin the cycle all over.
>   Cygon spray works well on the borer and eggs. Possibly by using it as
>  a soil drench, you could take care of your problem. >>
>
> --->And to that I say.... none of the above - or maybe partial credit to
> Crista for the Cygon answer.  Here's the story.... Crista is correct that iris
> borer - having now had a nice snack on your favorite iris - are pupating in
> the soil ... and will then emerge as a moth which will lay eggs on your next
> favorite iris for damage next spring.
>
> Irisborers are not in the soil, except as a shiny brown pupa (sp?).  Their
> life cycle is such that they will not remain in the soil, but will rather soon
> be airborne and dropping their eggs.  The only effective controls you can
> practice at this point is to remove any and all iris debris (dead leaves and
> such), and do so again in EARLY spring.  This should get rid of a good amount
> of the eggs.  Spraying the eggs with Cygon will not help, however, it has been
> suggested that applying a dormant oil spray in January may (that is, if you're
> willing to spend time in your garden in January).
>
> Cygon is a very effective control, but only when used at the proper time in
> the irisborer's lifecycle - that being early spring when the young
> caterpiller/disgusting worm is feeding on the iris.  Cygon is used then as a
> drench so that the plant becomes toxic, thereby doing away with the insect
> feeding on it.  So we recommend 3 applications.... the first one being when
> the earlist tulips first show color, and then 10 days later - and finally, 10
> days after that.
>
> It should be noted here that Cygon should be treated with respect.  I don't
> spray, I use it as a drench... pouring it onto the rhizome at it's base so
> that it spills into the soil where the roots can use it.
>
> And finally..... the new book THE GARDENER'S IRIS BOOK, by our own BILL SHEAR,
> has an excellent section on iris borers, complete with disgusting photos.....
> a must for any iris grower's library, IMHO.
>
> Kathy Guest
> E. Aurora, NY - Z5 or 6 somewhere
>
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