tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post115318371597761084..comments2024-03-19T00:54:49.043-05:00Comments on In My Kitchen Garden: How To Deal with Blister Beetles in the Garden: Organic Pest Control MethodsFarmgirl Susanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-69644188850219930312016-07-18T00:48:58.349-05:002016-07-18T00:48:58.349-05:00I know I'm a little late to this discussion, b...I know I'm a little late to this discussion, but I wanted to tell you guys about how to get rid of these horrible bugs. They destroyed my huge, beautiful hostas before I could even find out what they were. I used chunks of original Irish Spring soap. (found this tip online) You can grate it, but rain dissolves it faster, so I chunked mine up (not too big tho). Then sprinkled pieces in the flower beds. Worked like a charm. Only had to do it once. I did it again the next year for good measure. I've never seen another blister beetle (I had the black ones) in my yard.Jackienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-9206725286641145892013-08-05T11:56:16.200-05:002013-08-05T11:56:16.200-05:00Gardening in Kansas: have had striped, black and ...Gardening in Kansas: have had striped, black and brown blister beetles on potato and tomato over the years. Find that Sevin dust produces near 100% dead beetles in a couple of hours. Find that Malathion is slow acting and much less effective and saw no dead beetles. No luck with Rotenone. Thanks to this forumn will be experimenting with DE, vaccume cleaners, light traps and neem. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-5049465202668383592013-07-11T03:06:26.534-05:002013-07-11T03:06:26.534-05:00HERES WHAT WORKS LARGE PAN/TUB OF WATER
...HERES WHAT WORKS LARGE PAN/TUB OF WATER<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />BLISTER BEETLES AND A TON OF OTHER PESTS-HERES WHAT WORKS -KILL`EM BY THEIR OWN "DRAWN TO LIGHT" WEAKNESS-LARGE CONTAINERS(BIGGER THE BETTER) WITH 1" OF WATER AND SOME OLD COOKING/MOTOR-MOST ANY OIL. THE OIL STAYS ON TOP OF THE WATER . PUT A BRIGHT LIGHT 8 TO 12" ABOVE CONTAINER-LEAVE IT ON ALL NIGHT. YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT THE QUANTITY OF DEAD BUGS THE NEXT MORNING. I HAVE REDUCED MY GARDEN/ORCHARD BUG PROBLEM BY 95% WITH THIS TYPE OF DEVICE . ( YES. IT ALSO KILLS SOME BENEFICIALS AND IS NOT EFFECTIVE ON GRASSHOPPERS )4 TO 6 CONTAINERS SPACED EQUALLY WILL WORK MIRACLES ON MOST ALL INSECTS. DON`T LEAVE DEAD BUGS IN CONTAINERS TOO LONG-THEY WILL STINK.OLD COOKING OIL IS SAFEST WHEN DUMPING OUT THE CONTAINER ON THE GROUND . UNCLE WILL . PS: PUT CONTAINERS IN THE MOST OPEN AREAS POSSIBLE SO THE BUGS CAN SEE THE LIGHT AND AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO YOUR PLANTS <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-36249999259172287062012-07-18T10:02:09.060-05:002012-07-18T10:02:09.060-05:00chickens will not eat the beetles they run away sq...chickens will not eat the beetles they run away squawking.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14089050019459460428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-89567547406090634692012-07-03T09:09:45.138-05:002012-07-03T09:09:45.138-05:00I used Home Defense Max (from Walmart) and it work...I used Home Defense Max (from Walmart) and it worked nicely. The side of our house where we store the water hose was crawling with these nasty things. And I mean the whole ground look to be breathing because of the sheer mass of them. My husband sprayed Home Defense Max on the ground, side of house, and in the small holes where they laid their eggs and by morning there were nothing but a million dead carcasses lying around! Victory!!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-43084030642816900832011-07-31T09:29:32.063-05:002011-07-31T09:29:32.063-05:00Hi Everybody,
Thanks for all the tips and info...<b>Hi Everybody,<br /> Thanks for all the tips and info to help in our battles against the blasted blister beetles! :)</b><br /><br /> <b>6/13/10 Anonymous,</b><br /> Woohoo! Great news about your organic victory. An no worries - garlic, soap, pepper, and onion shouldn't harm your plants at all. This is a very common and popular concoction because it can work well against so many large and small pests in the garden.<br /><br /> <b>7/3/11 Anonymous,</b><br /> Wow - I didn't know about blister beetles nesting in the ground - though I have wondered where they come from. Thanks for the great organic tips.<br /><br /> <b>7/30/11 Anonymous,<br /> Malathion is an EXTREMELY TOXIC POISON that is easily absorbed through the skin has been banned in many places because it is so dangerous. I would NOT recommend using it anywhere in the garden. Saving a few plants isn't worth poisoning everything - and everyone - in the vicinity.<br /><br /> I strongly urge anyone reading this NOT to use malathion in your garden.<br /><br /> You can read more about the dangers of malathion here:<br /> <a href="http://www.adamanthea.org/english/insect-en/malathion-en.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.adamanthea.org/english/insect-en/malathion-en.html</a></b>Farmgirl Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-3411008211258158922011-07-30T14:50:14.286-05:002011-07-30T14:50:14.286-05:00Malathion will knock them down. Not organic, but i...Malathion will knock them down. Not organic, but it does do the job and quick!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-57345716292310055692011-07-20T20:12:20.121-05:002011-07-20T20:12:20.121-05:00The folks at Arbico Organics suggest using benefic...The folks at Arbico Organics suggest using beneficial nematodes. Apparently these tiny guys feed on the larva of ground dwelling garden pests, including blister and other beetles. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to try it this year and now those bottomless pits have moved into my garden by the many thousands... SO, i am now stuck having to resort to something else. I like the vacuum cleaner idea, but don't have electricity close enough... Last year i had a much smaller garden and only a limited number of the nightmares, so hand-picking was an option. Not so this time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-24595700690280958282011-07-03T22:25:10.939-05:002011-07-03T22:25:10.939-05:00Blister beetles!!! We used DE and they all did di...Blister beetles!!! We used DE and they all did disappear fast but that is not the end of them. They nest and breed in the ground around whereever they are chowing. Medina Orange oil and water will kill them but again there is the breeding ground. Since this was a raised bed we howed around edges and they came out in the hundreds. Creative thinking. We got out the turkey fryer/propane tank and set up the pot <br />with water next to the bed. Pour about six pots of boiling water on the infected area which was chard. So far we haven't found any more beetles and we are hoping the boiling water killed the eggs etc. <br /><br /> We often use boiling water on ant beds although we boil it on the kitchen stove. Usually takes three to four gallons of boiling water for a major ant bed. Put a rock/stone over the bed after the water is poured on to keep the steam in. Their beds are deep. Another remedy for ants is Twenty Mule Team Borax mixed with a little sugar around the opening of the ant bed. ( mix is about twenty per cent borax to sugar and usually put a half a cup on the top of the bed) Twenty Mule Team is high in boron which is toxic to the little devils. It does not take care of them 100% but usually they move on...takes a couple days to work.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-91479111217248958922010-06-13T15:07:16.680-05:002010-06-13T15:07:16.680-05:00I just used the garlic/soap/pepper flakes concocti...I just used the garlic/soap/pepper flakes concoction on the beetles....I decided to boil the stuff & make a "tea" as I didn't want the particles to clog my sprayer. I threw in some onion for added "yuck" flavor. WOW! They curled up & died immediately! I am impressed--but also concerned: if it worked this well, could there be any adverse affects for the plants/ good bugs?<br />Thanks for the tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-76087476816658268622008-07-28T10:26:00.000-05:002008-07-28T10:26:00.000-05:00What is the all natural potion for killing the cuc...What is the all natural potion for killing the cucumber beetle??amycthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03023845208057847766noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-8193479462457845032008-07-10T14:43:00.000-05:002008-07-10T14:43:00.000-05:00A friend just told me that she handles blister bee...A friend just told me that she handles blister beetles with her wet/dry shopvac. A little soapy water in the bottom (the soap breaks surface tension and makes the little buddies drown, instead of just climbing out of the water!) and sucks 'em up straight from the garden each evening until gone. I don't have a shop vac but I do have a handheld vaccumn with a reusable/washable filter. I've already seen some this year and plan to use the mini vac and dump the beetles in a bucket of soapy water. Good luck!<BR/>JillAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-41445414248046512642008-06-30T22:01:00.000-05:002008-06-30T22:01:00.000-05:00Yikes, saw those blister beetles yesterday when I ...Yikes, saw those blister beetles yesterday when I was weeding the garden. Didn't think much of it because they weren't eating anything but this evening went out to move the water in the garden and they had desimated(sp?) my beet plants, thousands upon thousands of those grey nasty things. So I am going to try the garlic, peppers, and soap, tomorrow. My poor son who is four and has taken such pride in the garden and is using it as his first 4-H project bawled his eyes out at the sight of our beautiful beet tops. Poor little booger. I picked the beets and am now searching for a pickling recipe. I HATE BEETLES! btw when I was little we knew them as velvet bugs because they are soft to touch.goatmamahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17977618995628616229noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1729931001975916632008-06-17T12:48:00.000-05:002008-06-17T12:48:00.000-05:00Hi Suzanne,A scuffle can be a very handy tool to h...Hi Suzanne,<BR/>A scuffle can be a very handy tool to have in the garden. You'll find photos and read all about how they work at my previous post, <A HREF="http://inmykitchengarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/i-cant-live-without_30.html" REL="nofollow"><B>I Can't Live Without My Scuffle Hoe!</B></A> : )Farmgirl Susanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04851855517852917202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-31495629791428682552008-06-17T01:07:00.000-05:002008-06-17T01:07:00.000-05:00What's a shuffle hoe?What's a shuffle hoe?Suzannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04606454923510883186noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-17233863870397573812008-03-08T09:27:00.000-06:002008-03-08T09:27:00.000-06:00The person who referred to dianthus sea shells mea...The person who referred to dianthus sea shells meant Diatomaceous Earth(DE) which is made from fresh water diatoms (fossil flour)and is an organic way to control insects. It is a white powder that you sprinkle similar to the lime/flour mixture only you should take care not to breathe it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-8163312246711225792007-08-25T10:19:00.000-05:002007-08-25T10:19:00.000-05:00At first I thought deer were eating my autumn clem...At first I thought deer were eating my autumn clematis....until I saw blister beetles covering the blossoms. I have used SEVIN which seems to have "run them away" but where did they come from and where are they going? I see some (I think) eggs on a crape myrtle nearby....and wondered if I should spray things nearby prophylactically. Would love suggestions/info. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1157077668107051942006-08-31T21:27:00.000-05:002006-08-31T21:27:00.000-05:00One thing that I have found to work on most garden...One thing that I have found to work on most garden pests is real easy to make at home, and it may help with deer.<BR/>I found that mixing 5 cloves of garlic, 4 tablespoons of red pepper flakes, 1/4 cup of dish soap and 2 gallons of water in a garden sprayer work quite well. I use all natural dish soap which is detergent free and organic garlic and red pepper flakes. I have not used this on any tomato plants. I have a certified organic farm and there for I am very cautious about what goes into and onto my produce. The only real draw back to this is that you have to wash all produce, no more walking threw the garden and grabbing a piece of lettuce or green bean.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1155237600640924202006-08-10T14:20:00.000-05:002006-08-10T14:20:00.000-05:00i've seen those horrendous bugs for the first time...i've seen those horrendous bugs for the first time this year, too!! they've completely ruined my garden :( this morning i put some DE with pyrethrin on them and I hope they're all dead by the time I get home.<BR/><BR/>RoxannRoxannhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16716381674721778467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153938158114284192006-07-26T13:22:00.000-05:002006-07-26T13:22:00.000-05:00I don't know if this would work with the blister b...I don't know if this would work with the blister beetles (which I am now extremely thankful I've never had to deal with), but I've had some success controlling cucumber beetles by using my dustbuster to vaccuum them up. It's definitely faster than hand-picking, and once the canister has a bunch of beetles in it I just open it up and dump them into a bucket of soapy water. I suspect you could also get results with a wet/dry shopvac, just put a little soapy water in the canister, than vaccuum to your heart's content. Very satisfying!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153357194645015312006-07-19T19:59:00.000-05:002006-07-19T19:59:00.000-05:00I had an invasion last year and the onlyh thing I ...I had an invasion last year and the onlyh thing I knew how to do was drop them one by one into a cup of water I held below the leaves. While it didn't save the flowers, it stopped them on the tomatoes.Lesliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08535826398347449121noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153317860199082702006-07-19T09:04:00.000-05:002006-07-19T09:04:00.000-05:00My condolences. something is still eating my basi...My condolences. something is still eating my basil and zucchini leaves too, but I have no idea what it is. Thankfully the other plants are ok.Kalyn Dennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02499065771517548587noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153292671998558592006-07-19T02:04:00.000-05:002006-07-19T02:04:00.000-05:00Paint brush poet is talking about diatomaceous ear...Paint brush poet is talking about diatomaceous earth. It's the fossilized remains of marine organisms and can be used for a lot of pests. Neem spray would probably work as well..Lorettahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06416367693737249819noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153260012561790882006-07-18T17:00:00.000-05:002006-07-18T17:00:00.000-05:00i just *knew* you eat those sheep!honestly, i have...i just *knew* you eat those sheep!<BR/><BR/>honestly, i have often wondered. myself, i would love a source for organic lamb. your dinner sounds marvelous!<BR/><BR/>blister beetles: oh yeah, this year was my first experience with them, though their sinister form is vaguely familiar and i somehow knew not to touch them when i first caught them eating my chard. hand picking is working for me for now. i might try the lime flour mix if the heat wave ever ends. <BR/><BR/>i use dishgloves and flick them off the plants where i stomp them. it does wonders for my mood. <BR/><BR/>so far they have been caught eating chard, beet tops, and tomato leaves.<BR/><BR/>most of my reading has been like yours- hand pick, wear gloves, etc. my chickens, for the record, will not eat them. they seem to know. <BR/><BR/>i am sorry to see the decimation in your garden. the chard should survive if it has enough to drink. <BR/><BR/>tabitha, not karlOmelayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09084221498316008069noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21318605.post-1153255039495152932006-07-18T15:37:00.000-05:002006-07-18T15:37:00.000-05:00Hmm, nobody mentioned dianthus sea shells and yes ...Hmm, nobody mentioned dianthus sea shells and yes I probably butchered that name. I used to get them from Organic Garden magazine. You sprinkle them on the ground under the vegetable plant. The theory is that even though they do not harm us, the bugs and worms find them extremely sharp and painful (take that evil beetles!). One other thing I would do is cut the plant to the ground, feed it to the chickens (Yay!) and let it start up again hoping for a fall crop. Yes, sooner than you think. I would sooner turn the flock of chickens loose in the garden (yes, there will be loss, but you can prepare for some of it.) and let them eat bugs rather than hand pick. Yuck!paintbrushpoethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17635049918526544564noreply@blogger.com