|
Post by xraysteve on May 21, 2007 20:37:56 GMT
Can anyone help? My lupin and my french bean plants seem to be being devoured by woodlice. How can I get rid of them and will the plants recover? I'm something of a novice at these things so any help appreciated! Thanks. PMX
|
|
|
Post by Lord L on May 22, 2007 5:11:05 GMT
Can anyone help? My lupin and my french bean plants seem to be being devoured by woodlice. How can I get rid of them and will the plants recover? I'm something of a novice at these things so any help appreciated! Thanks. PMX Are you sure that it is woodlice that are doing the damage? They feed mainly on rotten vegetation (ie. that which is dead or dying already) and are not usually much of a pest. A quote from the RHS: Despite their name, woodlice will not damage wood unless it is already very rotten. They are mainly scavengers that feed on rotting vegetation and because of this they are often seen in compost heaps. They may feed on soft plant growth, such as seedlings or strawberry fruits, and sometimes enlarge damage initiated by other pests, such as slugs. Symptoms Very little noticeable damage is caused to plants; holes in the leaves of established plants are usually due to slugs, snails or caterpillars. Vapona do a combined ant and woodlice killer, but I think you should be sure that they are the culprits first.
|
|
|
Post by Janglers on May 22, 2007 6:56:57 GMT
Can anyone help? My lupin and my french bean plants seem to be being devoured by woodlice. How can I get rid of them and will the plants recover? I'm something of a novice at these things so any help appreciated! Thanks. PMX Are you sure that it is woodlice that are doing the damage? They feed mainly on rotten vegetation (ie. that which is dead or dying already) and are not usually much of a pest. A quote from the RHS: Despite their name, woodlice will not damage wood unless it is already very rotten. They are mainly scavengers that feed on rotting vegetation and because of this they are often seen in compost heaps. They may feed on soft plant growth, such as seedlings or strawberry fruits, and sometimes enlarge damage initiated by other pests, such as slugs. Symptoms Very little noticeable damage is caused to plants; holes in the leaves of established plants are usually due to slugs, snails or caterpillars. Vapona do a combined ant and woodlice killer, but I think you should be sure that they are the culprits first. I agree with LL. As we have been having a lot rain recently, perhaps it is slugs as they do run away and hide in the day, making them very difficult to spot.
|
|
|
Post by Fi on May 22, 2007 11:19:40 GMT
Can anyone help? My lupin and my french bean plants seem to be being devoured by woodlice. How can I get rid of them and will the plants recover? I'm something of a novice at these things so any help appreciated! Thanks. PMX Are you sure that it is woodlice that are doing the damage? They feed mainly on rotten vegetation (ie. that which is dead or dying already) and are not usually much of a pest. A quote from the RHS: Despite their name, woodlice will not damage wood unless it is already very rotten. They are mainly scavengers that feed on rotting vegetation and because of this they are often seen in compost heaps. They may feed on soft plant growth, such as seedlings or strawberry fruits, and sometimes enlarge damage initiated by other pests, such as slugs. Symptoms Very little noticeable damage is caused to plants; holes in the leaves of established plants are usually due to slugs, snails or caterpillars. Vapona do a combined ant and woodlice killer, but I think you should be sure that they are the culprits first. Very true - indeed they can be regarded as gardener's, if not friends, at least nodding aquaintances, since their taste for dead wood helps it to break down and become incorporated in the soil. The only time we've had a garden free of them was when we kept ducks - the ducks loved to eat them and would spend hours fossicking for them.
|
|
|
Post by michaelesterol on May 22, 2007 11:39:50 GMT
Are you sure that it is woodlice that are doing the damage? They feed mainly on rotten vegetation (ie. that which is dead or dying already) and are not usually much of a pest. A quote from the RHS: Despite their name, woodlice will not damage wood unless it is already very rotten. They are mainly scavengers that feed on rotting vegetation and because of this they are often seen in compost heaps. They may feed on soft plant growth, such as seedlings or strawberry fruits, and sometimes enlarge damage initiated by other pests, such as slugs. Symptoms Very little noticeable damage is caused to plants; holes in the leaves of established plants are usually due to slugs, snails or caterpillars. Vapona do a combined ant and woodlice killer, but I think you should be sure that they are the culprits first. Very true - indeed they can be regarded as gardener's, if not friends, at least nodding aquaintances, since their taste for dead wood helps it to break down and become incorporated in the soil. The only time we've had a garden free of them was when we kept ducks - the ducks loved to eat them and would spend hours fossicking for them.Are you allowed to say that on here? Woodlice are the gardeners friends and their activity help the soil structure in the long term. I've certainly never known them eat live plants.
|
|
|
Post by carlott on May 22, 2007 12:15:47 GMT
I remember Hugh Fearnley Whittingthing cooking Woodlice to recreate a Roman dish. Perhaps this could be a coming together of the food and the gardening boards?
I found this which might be of interest - Woodlice smell of fish when they cook and add a crunchy texture and a slight fishy taste to food. For best results Woodlice should be raised on clean paper and fed with potato for a number of days before using. Before you cook them they must be killed, this occurs instantly by placing the Woodlice in a sieve and then pouring boiling water over them.
|
|
|
Post by Fi on May 23, 2007 0:11:51 GMT
I remember Hugh Fearnley Whittingthing cooking Woodlice to recreate a Roman dish. Perhaps this could be a coming together of the food and the gardening boards? I found this which might be of interest - Woodlice smell of fish when they cook and add a crunchy texture and a slight fishy taste to food. For best results Woodlice should be raised on clean paper and fed with potato for a number of days before using. Before you cook them they must be killed, this occurs instantly by placing the Woodlice in a sieve and then pouring boiling water over them. Carl, you simply have to try them out and then tell us what they taste like to you. If they are good, I suggest you contact Gordon Ramsay, with a polite suggestion that he include them in his menus.
|
|
|
Post by Shuggie on May 23, 2007 7:36:34 GMT
I remember Hugh Fearnley Whittingthing cooking Woodlice to recreate a Roman dish. Perhaps this could be a coming together of the food and the gardening boards? I found this which might be of interest - Woodlice smell of fish when they cook and add a crunchy texture and a slight fishy taste to food. For best results Woodlice should be raised on clean paper and fed with potato for a number of days before using. Before you cook them they must be killed, this occurs instantly by placing the Woodlice in a sieve and then pouring boiling water over them. Carl, you simply have to try them out and then tell us what they taste like to you. If they are good, I suggest you contact Gordon Ramsay, with a polite suggestion that he include them in his menus. Make a change from Flied Lice I 'spose ..
|
|