Aussie Finch Forum

If my memory serves me correctly, your the insect expert. I'm having issues with cutter bees. How can I get rid of them?

Thanks.

Dear I didn't know I was an entomologist - I'm more of a pedantic etymologist. Anyway leaf cutter bees aren't social insects like honey-bees but they are limited to where they can bore into wood to make their tunnels so they are probably going to be concentrated in one place. They aren't going to fly far from these tunnels to collect leaves so follow them back to this nest site and treat it how you want (Moretein, wood putty, napalm, fly swatter) and of course you'll have to put a wire down each hole so that you don't get a second generation infestation.

Napalm

Craig52 wrote:Napalm

I was thinking the same thing, wasn't that used in WW2

Thanks GregH, what would you suggest for plants? Liquid Seven? They have really put a hurting on a couple of passion fruit vines, I'm growing for my electus parrots. Thanks.

BluJay wrote:Thanks GregH, what would you suggest for plants? Liquid Seven? They have really put a hurting on a couple of passion fruit vines, I'm growing for my electus parrots. Thanks.

You know I was joking about the Napalm - I hope you're joking about the Sevin (1-napthyl N-methylcarbamate or Carbaryl). I know the label says that it's very toxic to bees but it's toxic to just about everything else which is why the APVMA has a dark cloud over this product and recommends that it is not used at flowering when there is a risk of carry-over in to harvestable fruit (see report 2012). If I were you at this time of the year and you have managed to control the leaf-cutters at their source I'd just be give the vines a dose of fertiliser (not too much nitrogen or you may suppress flowering in favour of vegetative growth).

Thanks so very much, GregH, for taking an interest and the time to help me. I want to learn new ways of doing things with lawns and gardens. Some of which are for my birds. I read the report, and it is intensive. Reminds me of the dursban days. I will not use sevin, and will fertilise as you stated. Again, thank you for being generous with your time to me.
Kindest Regards

Brooksy-- NAPALM was used in the Vietnam war, in ww2 they had flame throwers.

Spitfire wrote:Brooksy-- NAPALM was used in the Vietnam war, in ww2 they had flame throwers.

Both were a bit before my time but thanks for the correction. Cheers

And speaking of 'Sevin' . .

Back in the 'Good(?) old days it was used to treat air-sac mite in Gouldians

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