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Pest SolutionsBugs And Weeds,Lawns To LakesTM |
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Rational Solutions To Pest Control Problems Soap Test: Early Insect Detection |
TexPest Services Pest Control From Soap TestEarly Pest Warning, Early Pest Detection,
How To Do A Soap Test
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In my part of the world we are undergoing an invasion of army worms! These little soldiers can march through a lot of lawn in a night! Before you let insects get the drop on your lawn, there is a method you can use to determine the likelihood of an infestation or invasion. Consider it a sort of low tech radar warning of incoming enemy troops. You can do this simple test with items you already have around your home. It is called a "soap test." Many of the little critters that cause lawn damage are already present before the problem becomes obvious. Eggs are laid on the ground or in the thatch, some are laid in the ground by burrowing insects like mole crickets, and they hatch and live much of their early life in the soil. This method will help to bring them up so they can be counted. The purpose of the soap test is to determine the approximate types and numbers of insects in the soil. This will aid in knowing what we have to deal with, and whether the numbers of insects per square foot warrant treatment. I. Material: A. Large coffee can with both top and bottom removed.
II. Solution: A. Mix 1 ounce of dish soap with 1 gallon of water.
III. Method: A. Place the can on the ground and push it partway into the ground. IV. What you will learn: If there are any pests in the ground, this soapy solution will irritate them, and they will begin to rise to the surface where you can count them and determine whether an infestation is present. This will be determined by what levels of the pest are considered acceptable. These rates are usually expressed in terms of numbers of pest per square foot. Specific data on individual pests is available from county agents, various university horticulture and agriculture departments, and other places on the world wide web. Window Sill science: When you retrieve the icky little critters from the ground, take the opportunity to show them to a child, and explain about the various stages of the insect lifecycle. You might just spark a lifelong interest in the life sciences! Back To Tutorial Directory Back To Pest Prevention For a systematic approach to pest prevention see Bugs And Weeds Copyright (C) 2007 James Burns |
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