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Re: Symphillids


>Has anyone had any experience in dealing with these little creatures! How
>much damage can they cause to a pumpkins developing root structure and how
>might I best get rid of them or not to worry?
>
>Still searching the books for more information, any advise or thoughts
>would be helpful!

Chris - 

Steve Solomon's book "Growing Vegetables West of the Cascades" devotes 7
full pages to Symphylans. 

Few gardeners realize how devastating these pests can be, and for my part 
they have made it mext to impossible for me to grow beets. As you say, they love
decaying organic matter and tender emerging root tips.

According to Solomon, there is little that can be chemically done to
remove them. Diazinon will not kill them, but will reduce them if used
in very high doses, and who wants to eat vegetables drenched in Diazinon?
Commercial growers use Dyfonate (trade name for fonphos), a restricted
pesticide, (a good reason for eating organic).

Organic control of Symphylan involves using diatomaceous earth (expensive),
and rotational techniques. Also (what I do) before planting your food crop,
broadcast heavily with buckwheat which the symphylans also love. This will
divert
their attention until your food crop gets established, and the buckwheat
can be easily removed.

The good news - according to Solomon - members of the squash family, (along
with tomatoes, carrots, corn, parsnips, and lettuce) are relatively immune
to this pest.




Bill Verchere                     
billv@island.net           http://www.island.net/~billv/
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