Woodlice have infested my lupin's how do I stop them doing it in future years?
Question:This year was my Lupins first year. They were a terrible crop (if you like)! I cut them back today and found the stems were lived in by woodlice. Why did they do this and how can I stop this for next years flowers?
Answers:
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is the best control for woodlice.http://www.greengardener.co.uk/custquest... It's made of the fossilised remains of diatoms (a type of algae), which have a hard shell made of non-crystalline silica.
De is applied to where the insects live and picked up by the insect’s exoskeleton by static electricity. The Diatomaceous Earth causes abrasion cuts in the insect’s cuticle and once exposed the insect can no longer retain its moisture and will die from contact with DE within a few days.
Make sure you clean up any possible habitat, like damp debris, from your flower bed so the Woodlice don't have a place to live & breed.
Good luck! Hope this helps.
ddt works well
Woodlice live on dead or decaying plant matter, as far as I know they don't cause plants to die. I'm not sure what to suggest but don't blame woodlice!
Do not allow the plant stems to dry up and decay.
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