Gaming

Diatomaceous earth for bed bugs

The bed bug is a lawn pest that kills grass by sucking sap and injecting toxic saliva with its pointed nozzle.

These critters are very common in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. They prefer hot, dry weather and will not generally prevail in large numbers in humid conditions. Bed bugs can survive through the winter in warm, sheltered places and will come back out when the weather warms up.

Adults are black with bright white wings and about 1/8 inch (0.35 cm) long. Nymphs are orange-red with a white band down the middle and are wingless. It is these nymphs that are responsible for most of the damage done to your lawn. As the nymphs mature, they darken to a brownish color, eventually turning black just before they become adults.

Bed bugs will damage lawns, creating round, brownish-yellow patches of dead grass. However, damage to your lawn may not be noticed until you have a large number of these pests present in your lawn.

Other factors such as high temperatures, drought, rocky soil, dog urine, and burning fertilizer can also cause this type of damage, so it’s important to check your lawn for bed bugs before assuming you have a bug. infestation.

To prevent large populations from residing in your lawn, start monitoring for these pests in June before the weather turns warm and large populations develop.

Steps you can take to help prevent infestations and damage to your lawn include:

  • Keep your lawn well fertilized.
  • Mow the grass so that it is 2 to 4 inches (6 to 7 1/2 cm) tall.
  • Straw removal.
  • Maintain proper humidity levels.
  • Avoid accumulation of water.
  • Aerate the lawn if it is compacted.
  • Use a type of resistant grass that can withstand a bed bug attack. If you are planting new grass or reseeding, be sure to use at least 6 inches of topsoil.

The use of chemical sprays and insecticides against pests is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.

In the event that you encounter a large population of these insects, the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation suggests food-grade diatomaceous earth as a solution to your problem. Diatomaceous earth is often used as a natural insecticide and works to kill pests like bed bugs by lacerating their exoskeletons and dehydrating them.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *