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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2007 17:48:06 GMT
Earlier this last year I had terrible problems with my Solomon's Seal and some bug that kept devouring all the leaves, sorry I've forgotten what you guys told me they were. You really helped me sort them out. Well I'm home this weekend and hope to get a tidy up in the garden ;D I intend splitting up the massive clump of Solomon's Seal that I have because they have become very congested  What I would like to know is should I look out for or will I see signs of these bugs when I split them up. |
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Post by Weeterrier on Dec 6, 2007 19:50:14 GMT
Sorry Gardengirl, I'd love to help. but I haven't a clue Someone will know,and this will put you to the top of the list  |
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Post by Tig on Dec 6, 2007 20:35:51 GMT
It could have been red lily beetle - they like Solomons Seal as well as lillies! I believe the beetles can overwinter in the soil, but their larvae drop onto the soil and at 8-10mm size they pupate (I have no idea what these look like). The only way to deal with them is to squish them  If it wasn't these perhaps a search will reveal who responded before and you can PM them  x Tig |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 7, 2007 18:01:03 GMT
Grdengirl, mine also got 'ate', and I'm pretty sure it was the horrid Solomon's Seal sawfly. I only had two plants, which had been given to me by a friend, and I'm desperately hoping they come up next year  ... cheers ... |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2007 9:16:00 GMT
You lot are fab, what I love about this forum is I don't log in very often but when I do you are all there to help, thanks. Hi Tig, it wasn't Lily Beetle but I do get the little red devils. I never knew they could possibly over wnter in the soil so thanks for that. I do squish the adults though ;D Canary you got it, it was Solomon's Seal sawfly. I'll let you know if I find anything worth reporting while I'm splitting the clumps, hope the weather holds for me to do it |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2007 11:27:12 GMT
Sawflies are particularly nasty critters, GG. As well as the SS sawfly, there's another one which, last year, completely stripped a canary creeper within about 3 days - and however many of the little &*&^% I removed, new ones seemed to emerge. This was in the early summer - and by mid-summer the plant had recovered. The strange thing is that they only attacked the canary creeper - didn't even look at other plants, although there were plenty of nasturtiums, which are related, nearby ... cheers ...
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Post by 4pygmies on Dec 8, 2007 11:29:12 GMT
I doubt very much if you will find anything much at this time of year but squish with a vengeance if you do! If it is very congested it will grow back much stronger after you've split it anyway - I think you will be alright for Solomon's Seal next year Gardengirl. |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 8, 2007 15:20:39 GMT
Well congested  I never knew they had roots like they have, very tough too. Congested was an under statement All the top shoots were so tightly packed together and equally difficult to part, you certainly couldn't tease them apart like you can other plants Infact they were that tight I couldn't imagine even a little bug would managing to hide away in there. I didn't spot any lodgers to squish I had to use the spade and be really brutal to split them up, well actually chop them up. The elderly neighbour next door was delighted to take a couple of clumps for his garden, and I've replanted some in mine. Afraid there are a few that will be going to the local tip mainly the outer parts. |
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Post by piggingardener on Dec 12, 2007 12:46:27 GMT
The adult sawflies hibernate in the soil near the plant. They lay their eggs to hatch more or less when the flowers appear. The only thing that works, apart from picking the larvae off individually, is derris. You need to spray fairly regularly but it does stop a lot of the damage.
The first year mine was attacked, they had shredded the leaves completely. They looked so unsightly that I cut all the stems back to ground level. I now have a massive clump which probably needs splitting. So don't worry about them not coming back.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 12, 2007 12:53:16 GMT
Thanks Piggin ... I guess I'll have to go and get some derris. I can't help wondering, given that this pest is specific to a particular plant, how they knew to come to my garden just after I'd been given the plant in question ... the critters must have some sort of CB radio thing going on ;D ... cheers ...
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Post by piggingardener on Dec 12, 2007 14:24:06 GMT
Thanks Piggin ... I guess I'll have to go and get some derris. I can't help wondering, given that this pest is specific to a particular plant, how they knew to come to my garden just after I'd been given the plant in question ... the critters must have some sort of CB radio thing going on ;D ... cheers ... They may have come in with the plant CC. Mine was attacked in it's third year so they must have sent out a reconnaisance party out to spot it! |
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x Tig
... cheers ...
I never knew they had roots like they have, very tough too. Congested was an under statement 
