Re: CULT: iris haircuts

In a message dated 7/1/2001 1:22:12 PM Mountain Daylight Time, 
donald@eastland.net writes:

> Plus, since the grasshoppers eat the leaves off in great chunks, many which 
> just fall on the ground anyway . . . . . 


> Hi Donald:
>     I battled grasshoppers in Arkansas for several years until I researched 
> and found Nosema locusta. I bought one pound of the bait, followed the 
> instructions to the letter and saw a reduction in the population within a 
> reasonable time but the following year and for three years afterward, the 
> reduction was incredible.
>     I didn't notice that the damage done by the grasshoppers affected the 
> next year's bloom of my iris by the way. . .
       Keeping the grass/weeds mowed from the borders of your garden/beds is 
necessary, as per the instructions. . . 
> Here is an excerpt from an article on this product:

       Natural Enemies 
There are a number of organisms which feed on grasshoppers and some can be 
used as biological control organisms. 
Protozoans - The best known is Nosema locusta, a sporazoan. This is a 
disease-causing organism which occurs naturally but usually does not cause 
the kind of epidemics in the wild that would control grasshopper populations. 
When N. locusta is applied to bran baits and targeted against early occurring 
nymphs, the rates of infection can be dramatically increased. In addition, 
because grasshoppers will cannibalize when populations get high enough, even 
higher infection rates are brought about by healthy older stages consuming 
younger nymphs dying of the disease. N. locusta can also be transmitted 
through the egg to he nymphs, impacting next year’s population. 
Unfortunately, like any other disease, N. locusta takes time to control 
populations and crop protection does not start until a sufficient proportion 
of the population has been infected. 

Hope this helps you. . 

Doris Elevier, El Paso, TX Zone 7, AHS 9-10 Hot, dry, AND windy.


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