Gardeners who grow strawberries know very well how capricious this crop can be. And in order to get a rich harvest of berries with healthy vitamins, you have to make a lot of effort. At the same time, pests cause a lot of trouble, because they also do not mind feasting on the life-giving nectar of plants and fruits.
One of the representatives of the genus of the most harmful insects is the whitefly. Outwardly, these insects resemble white midges. But miniature creatures seem harmless only at first glance; in fact, they pose a serious danger to garden crops.
If white midges appear on strawberries, you need to immediately start fighting them, otherwise the harvest will be lost. These midges cause the most damage to plants. After all, it all ends not only with a noticeable decrease in the yield. A pest attack can lead to the death of the crop.
You need to know the enemy by sight!
Before moving on to ways to combat this miniature pest, it is worth getting to know it better. In Latin, their name is as follows - Aleyrodidae. They belong to representatives of insects with incomplete transformation. However, these pests are characterized by complex development. The size of the whitefly is very small - the length of the body does not exceed 1 millimeter! But due to the fact that insects settle in colonies, they can easily be seen even with the naked eye.
The whitefly survives the winter in grass that has not been harvested since the fall, and with the advent of the first warm days, the insects awaken from a long hibernation and move to the shoots and leaves of plants. And strawberries are an ideal haven for whiteflies.
Attention! For the winter, it is imperative to remove all plant remains from the area, including diseased bushes. You also need to regularly weed and remove weeds.
Only the greatest harm is caused not by adults, but by larvae that live on the underside of strawberry leaves. Their favorite diet is the life-giving juice of garden crops and tender green pulp. For this reason, some time after they settle in, small holes can be noticed on the leaves.
If previously these insects attacked the plants of gardeners in the southern regions, now colonies of pests can settle in the territory of central Russia. The climate here is moderate, with occasional frosts.
The increase in the insect's range is largely determined by the improvement in its ability to hibernate. Some individuals can wait out the cold even in open areas!
White midges are clearly visible on strawberry leaves
Floaters in children
The most common reason for the appearance of dots or stripes before the eyes in children is overwork. With excessive stress on the body, a child gets tired much faster than an adult, and this applies to both the physical and psycho-emotional spheres. Therefore, the appearance of flies often indicates ordinary fatigue caused by studying at school, and not the development of any diseases. However, other factors of their occurrence cannot be excluded.
Blood diseases are a common cause of the formation of dots or other figures in the eyes of children. Such a child experiences weakness, cannot study normally, and refuses to eat. Once a problem is discovered, you need to visit your doctor regularly, because... Many blood-related diseases can return after treatment. Even the mere appearance of floaters for a short time after treatment can indicate a relapse.
The insect is small, but the trouble is big
The danger of whiteflies lies not only in the devouring of strawberries by adults and larvae. Despite their simply huge and insatiable appetite, insects are not able to assimilate all the plant juice they consume, and therefore excrete a special waste product. Visually it looks like dew. And this is simply an ideal environment for the development of a dangerous fungus, which is popularly called mob.
This disease is no less dangerous for garden crops than whitefly. The fungus is able to completely clog the holes in the green part of the plant. This leads to the inevitable cessation of photosynthesis. As a result, the plant withers and dies within a short period of time.
Some gardeners are inclined to believe that flies are found only in open areas. In reality, this opinion is wrong, and whiteflies can be found even in greenhouses. Moreover, greenhouses are an ideal habitat for pests. After all, there is a high level of humidity and constant warmth - what else can you dream of?
Signs of infection
Sucking the juice from the leaves causes noticeable lesions. Small light spots appear on them. Damage to leaves is not the only harm caused by insects; during their life, the larvae leave secretions that create conditions for the development of sooty fungus. This disease interferes with the plant's photosynthesis, the leaves become deformed and dry out.
White midges pose a danger to plants not through their own appetite, but through the spread of viral diseases. They are carriers of almost 20 different diseases that cause the death of crops.
Attention. Whiteflies like high temperature and humidity; if strawberries are grown in a greenhouse, it is necessary to control the normal climate conditions. In the ground, the insect begins to actively reproduce in the second half of the summer. At this time, you should pay close attention to the plants, turn the leaves more often, looking for white midges on the strawberries.
Just don't give up!
Most experienced gardeners are aware of the danger posed by whiteflies, and therefore try with all their might to combat such a threat. Some use glue traps - a simple method, but not the most effective. The threat from insects is also related to the rate of egg laying. Over a short lifespan (no more than 30 days), the female is capable of laying up to 250 eggs, from which larvae mature within a week.
It will be interesting! The whitefly loves hot and humid conditions, but as soon as the temperature drops to +10 °C, the insects die.
In open ground, reproduction mainly occurs in the summer; in greenhouse conditions, this process can take place all year round. Therefore, a glue trap is not able to completely get rid of insects, and for each missed individual, several hundred new ones soon appear.
For this reason, it is worth using more effective methods:
- chemicals;
- biological agents;
- traditional methods.
The main thing is to give preference only to well-known manufacturers and follow the instructions that come with each drug. It is also worth taking precautions when working with chemical protective equipment.
It is worth considering one feature, due to which pest control should begin as early as possible. Chemicals can only affect adults, while the larvae have strong immunity to any drug.
How to identify the cause of floaters
To identify pathology of the visual organ, the patient's visual acuity is measured with and without correction, visual fields are determined, and intraocular pressure is measured.
The most accessible and informative methods for diagnosing most ophthalmological diseases are biomicroscopy, direct and indirect ophthalmoscopy. If necessary, more complex diagnostic measures are carried out. A person may also need to donate blood for sugar (blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin, C-peptide). To identify hypertensive or hypotensive angiopathy, measuring blood pressure is of great importance. If a TBI or stroke is suspected, a CT or MRI of the brain is prescribed.
Chemistry help
Chemicals should be used when there are large numbers of pests or in cases where more gentle control methods no longer give the desired result. Just keep in mind that due to resistance to a number of drugs, not every type of insecticide is suitable for solving the problem.
Actellik, a contact action product (sprayer), has a good effect. The advantage of this drug is that its active substances do not penetrate into the plant and berries, so there is no danger to the crop itself.
Often they use drugs that have a detrimental effect on the digestive system of insects. To get rid of white midges, use the following means:
- Aktara - the drug is effective for destroying more than 100 varieties of garden pests.
- Rovikurt is an oily liquid against mass destruction of berry crops.
- Pegasus" and Condifor help get rid of the pest if it is detected early.
- Fitoverm, Vertimek are insectoacaricides that have a wide spectrum of action, and insects do not get used to them.
In order to increase the effectiveness of the fight against whitefly, it is worth further strengthening the immunity of plants and increasing their resistance. To do this, insecticide treatment should be combined with the use of a growth stimulator. The drug “Bud” has good qualities.
One of the most effective means of controlling whiteflies on strawberries is chemical treatment.
Treatment and prevention
Treatment for the presence of flies with VSD should be comprehensive. Therapy includes medications aimed at maintaining normal blood pressure levels. Auxiliary treatment includes psychotherapeutic correction, acupuncture, normalization of sleep and nutrition, as well as taking medications that reduce the risk of an attack.
Pressure correction
To prevent the onset of symptoms, drugs that correct blood pressure are used. If you have high blood pressure, taking antihypertensive medications is indicated. Most often these are adrenergic blockers, loop diuretics and other drugs. If blood pressure levels are reduced, drugs based on caffeine, eleuthrococcus, ginseng extract, etc. are prescribed. Maintaining blood pressure at the proper level is also possible with the help of folk remedies. Hawthorn and motherwort help lower blood pressure, while coffee and black tea with sugar, on the contrary, increase it.
The holding of trainings
Psychotherapeutic training helps reduce the frequency of attacks, since the occurrence of VSD is often associated with emotional overload, stress and anxiety disorders. Group classes produce a good effect in combination with individual psychotherapy.
The doctor tries to find out the cause of the disease by asking the patient about the presence of stressful situations and other experiences that worsen the quality of life. Often, troubles in the family, at work and health problems provoke attacks. However, Gelstatt therapy methods give good results.
Carrying out reflexology
Impact on active points of the body using reflexology methods produces a good effect. The most commonly used treatment is acupuncture. This method of treatment improves blood circulation, stimulates the immune system and allows you to relax.
Acupuncture for the appearance of spots before the eyes is carried out in the area of the face, scalp and ears. To get rid of the symptom, it is necessary to combine this method of treatment with medication.
Correction of daily routine
Normalization of lifestyle leads to an improvement in the condition and a decrease in the frequency of attacks. First of all, you need to get enough sleep. For proper rest, the brain needs at least 8-9 hours a day. With a lack of sleep, thought processes deteriorate, the body does not have time to recover, which creates additional stress on the autonomic nervous system.
It is important to alternate between work and rest. If a person spends a lot of time in the same position during the day, then every hour it is recommended to do a small warm-up to speed up blood circulation.
Floaters can also occur during prolonged work at the computer, when the eyes are under strain for a long period. In this case, every hour you need to take a break of 5 minutes. Some helpful exercises include circular eye movements, intensive blinking, or simply closing your eyelids for a few seconds.
Nutrition correction
Diet also affects the course of VSD and the occurrence of floaters
It is important to exclude from the menu everything that can worsen the course of the disease and provoke attacks:
- fast food;
- fried foods;
- fats;
- smoked meats;
- alcohol;
- products containing preservatives and GMOs.
Drug therapy
Groups of medications that are used when a symptom occurs:
- Nootropic: Mildronate, Mexicor, Nootropil, etc. This line of products helps accelerate blood circulation in the brain, while improving the nutrition of the eyeballs.
- Antidepressants. It is dangerous to take such drugs without prescription. They promote addiction and are used for treatment for a course of no more than 1-2 weeks. Tricyclic antidepressants are most often prescribed.
- Anti-anxiety: Novopassit, Afobazol, Persen, etc. Calm and relieve the effects of stress. Improves the condition of VSD.
Additionally, when such attacks occur, antispasmodic and painkillers are often prescribed. To improve the condition of the visual system and relieve discomfort, eye drops based on taurine and other active ingredients are used. A good effect is produced by the drug Cinnarizine, which eliminates vascular spasm.
Rules for processing plants
In order to ruthlessly destroy whiteflies on strawberries by using chemicals, you must adhere to certain rules:
- Strictly follow the dosage prescribed by the manufacturers in the instructions!
- Spraying the crop should be carried out only in dry and windless weather!
- Use different preparations each time so that insects cannot get used to them!
- The process of treating plants should be carried out in the early morning hours or in the evening at sunset! The sun's rays coming into contact with drops containing toxic substances can cause burns.
- With frequent and incorrect use of chemicals, their substances accumulate in the soil. Eating berries collected from cultivated areas is unsafe!
For your information! The pest leaves behind transparent tracks on the back of the leaves, which make it easy to detect. Whiteflies can also be seen upon careful inspection.
You can significantly reduce the population of adult whiteflies and their larvae in your garden in 4 procedures, taking a break of 5 days. Only with each subsequent treatment should the concentration of the drug be reduced. Only compliance with these conditions will allow you to completely get rid of pests and keep the delicacy safe for consumption.
The reason for the appearance of floaters and flickering before the eyes is a normal reaction to stress.
When a person is in a state of anxiety, his body prepares for “fight and flight.” And it activates the functions necessary for such behavior, suppressing those that are useless in “combat” conditions.
In the modern world, a person with neurotic fears usually clearly understands that he is not in any real danger. And often she doesn’t feel like she’s worried. But he doesn't feel it consciously. His brain found a threat for itself. Scared of her. And now he is preparing to defend himself.
Normal preparation of the visual organs for encountering real danger includes:
- dilation of the pupils to increase the amount of visual information about an impending threat;
- narrowing of peripheral vision (you need to look in front of the glitch, and not yawn to the sides);
- reducing the frequency of blinking movements so as not to miss danger while the eye is closed;
- increased blood flow in the area of the eye muscles.
Subjectively, the changes that occur can be felt as:
- obtaining a brighter, sometimes literally “overexposed” picture before your eyes;
- "tunnel vision";
- pain and tension in the eyes;
- flickering of flies, spots, flashes of light, etc.
Features of biological protection
When we fight pests using chemicals, we have to be extremely careful! Inept handling of drugs leads to various consequences. Moreover, not only plants are at risk; the gardener himself is also at risk in a certain sense.
The use of biomaterial is a more gentle solution and an alternative to chemistry. The essence of the biological technique is to intentionally introduce other insects to the garden crop, which will be beneficial by eating whitefly larvae. At the same time, the plants themselves remain safe and sound. Among such saviors we can note the two most common enemies of whiteflies:
- predatory bug Macrolophus;
- parasite of the greenhouse whitefly Encarzia.
Having completed the “cleansing”, the saviors leave the “processing” zone and move to another place. To purchase such biological material, you should contact any large garden farm or laboratory.
The Macrolophus bug is considered a true whitefly killer
Definition
Sometimes, when looking at a bright surface, various structures appear in the eyes in the form of:
- thin threads;
- circles;
- pinpoint and granular accumulations of fibers.
Such small particles prevent the eye from reflecting light and cast small shadows on the retina, whose main function is to perceive color.
This phenomenon is called flying or floating floaters. They occur regardless of age; the causes are determined rather by lifestyle and the individual characteristics of the body.
Black and white floaters are located in the vitreous body, which makes up ⅔ of the volume of the eyeball. The jelly-like liquid inside consists of water and hyaluronic acids, proteins and collagens, performing several functions:
- protection of the eye shell from external irritants;
- maintaining visual acuity;
- ensuring proper functioning of the eye (light refraction, shape support).
This fluid is not replenished and remains for life. However, the prognosis for treatment is favorable.
Folk technique
In addition to specialists, gardeners themselves have been creating their own recipes for pest control for many decades, passing on the knowledge to their children to keep the business alive. And as practice shows, most folk methods are in no way inferior to specialized means of protection in terms of effectiveness. Moreover, they are completely safe for plants and the human body.
Idea! Various lice shampoos or sprays with finpronil will serve as a useful addition to the main means of protection. The shampoo is diluted in water and the leaves are washed with the solution, and the soil around the crop is treated with a spray.
Also, the peculiarity of folk methods is that they help get rid of whiteflies in cases where it is not possible to use chemicals. Basically, all recipes are based on the use of familiar products - onions, garlic, lemon. In other words, there is always a choice:
- If there is a small colony of insects in a small planting, then it is enough to wash the leaves on both sides with warm water, and also loosen the soil near the plants.
- Garlic tincture can repel insects. 100 g of peeled garlic is poured into a liter of water, after which the solution is infused for 7 days. The resulting mixture is filtered and poured into a separate container with a tight lid. For treatment, 10 ml of solution is diluted in a liter of water, and the beds with strawberries are sprayed with it. Treatment is carried out once a week.
- A decoction of lemon peels also has good effectiveness. It’s easy to prepare – use 5 lemons per liter of water. Cook for 60 minutes, after which the solution cools and the leaves of the crop are sprayed with it.
- Laundry soap is an equally effective and fast-acting remedy. Not only plant leaves, but also stems are treated with a soap solution.
- A light bulb next to the plantings. Not a single little midge can resist this trick, which is used by many summer residents. A light bulb turns on next to the crop in the evenings, and its light attracts insects. If they fly close enough, the pests die from the burns they receive. True, this only works with adults.
Moderate planting of seedlings at an optimal distance will help prevent the appearance of pests on strawberry crops - they should not be planted too close to each other, as this will interfere with the natural ventilation of the plants.
If the weather outside is humid, it is better not to water the plants and refuse to spray them. Otherwise, you can create all the conditions for active reproduction of pests
Medical definition of symptom
Hypertension as a cause of floaters before the eyes.
Thus, floaters are always shadows of opaque objects in the eye. Their appearance due to the destruction of the vitreous body can be caused not only by problems with the eye itself, but also by various diseases of other body systems. In addition, blood or medications getting into the eye has similar symptoms.
Most often, the vitreous body is destroyed due to metabolic disorders, which are caused by various problems with the composition of the blood and the functioning of the circulatory system as a whole.
The first possible cause of the pathology is hypertension. Vascular hypertension leads to increased blood pressure - that is, overexertion. It becomes maximum during a hypertensive crisis. Vasospasm leads to disruption of blood flow in the capillaries of the eye, which is why floaters appear. In addition, the vessel may rupture, blood will leak into the vitreous, and its formed elements will cast a shadow on the retina.
Blood flow can also be disrupted due to osteochondrosis of the cervical spine - in this case, the vertebrae compress the vertebral arteries. It is not difficult to diagnose osteochondrosis, because The following symptoms are added to the flies:
- acute headache;
- dizziness;
- weakness in the limbs;
- aphasia;
- facial asymmetry.
Another disease that leads to the destruction of blood vessels and poor circulation is diabetes mellitus. In advanced cases, the capillaries of the retina become fragile and rupture, which leads to the appearance of blood clots in the vitreous.
Due to various diseases, blood clots can form in the vessels, which also lead to the appearance of shadows on the retina.
If floaters before the eyes are accompanied by a headache, this may indicate not only osteochondrosis, but also some problems with the brain. First of all, this is a migraine, the pain in which is localized in one half of the head. The floaters appear not during the attack itself, but shortly before it. They are complemented by the following symptoms:
- flashes of light;
- blurred vision;
- hallucinations;
- aphasia.
Another possibility is a head injury (concussion, contusion). A TBI can be suspected if, in addition to floaters and pain, the following are observed:
- fainting;
- dizziness, nausea and vomiting;
- memory impairment;
- convulsions;
- other neurological disorders.
Floaters can also indicate a cerebral hemorrhage. Moreover, in this case they may be the only symptom. Sometimes anemia is additionally associated with a drop in hemoglobin levels in the blood.
The most dangerous disease, the symptom of which is floaters in the eyes, is a brain tumor. If the occipital part of the brain is damaged by cancer, the functioning of the visual cortex is disrupted - this can manifest itself in a variety of vision problems, including blindness, although the eyes themselves continue to function normally. Floaters are just the beginning; as the tumor grows, flashes of light appear, a narrowing of the field of vision, and disturbances in color perception.
In addition to the visual cortex of the brain, the optic nerve connecting it to the eye can be damaged - for example, due to exposure to toxic substances (botulinum toxin, methyl alcohol, etc.)
Problems with blood pressure during pregnancy can result in eclampsia, a condition when blood pressure rises to a level that is dangerous for the woman and fetus. Therefore, if floaters appear in the eyes during pregnancy, you should be examined by an ophthalmologist.
Floaters before the eyes vary in shape and color. They appear as ring or point formations on the projected image. Sometimes they take the form of white or black threads. In medicine, this manifestation is characterized as polymorphic opacities in the viewing radius. They appear once as a result of exposure to an irritant or constantly if a person is sick.
White flies
Due to oxygen starvation of the brain, the appearance of floaters is accompanied by weakness and nausea. They may indicate an impending stroke. Therefore, if this effect is chronic, you should be examined by a neurologist or cardiologist.
Preventive actions
No wonder there is a popular wisdom: the best defense is an attack. Therefore, any lover of garden crops interested in growing strawberries and other berries needs to prepare in advance for the upcoming attack from natural profit lovers.
It is optimal to place onion or garlic plantings between the rows - they emit a pungent and unpleasant odor for insects, which will avoid this place. True aesthetes should take a closer look at marigolds and nasturtiums. Small parasites also cannot stand the smell of these flowers.
Important! Since the damage from the miniature pest is very great, it is necessary to carefully inspect the young bush before planting it for the presence of uninvited guests. The main reason for the mass death of plantings is the acquisition of an infected seedling/
A similar effect can be achieved by using wood ash. To repel pests, you should scatter it near the bushes. In addition, it is useful to give the culture a hot shower every month. The water is heated to 80 °C, and the plants are watered from a watering can.
Diagnosis when flies appear
If floaters appear, first of all, you should consult an ophthalmologist, who will conduct a full eye examination using a slit lamp, check visual acuity and measure intraocular pressure. In the absence of pathologies, the patient should consult with other specialists - a therapist, a neurologist and an endocrinologist, since the cause of the disease may lie in the dysfunction of other organs and systems. If there are symptoms such as nausea, headaches or loss of coordination, a person needs a full diagnosis, which can detect a stroke or toxins in the body.
Diagnostic features
Types of flower pests
There are two main types of insects that most often infect the leaves of geranium, pelargonium and fuchsia:
Black sciarid insects harm indoor plants
Firstly, in order to establish the main cause of their occurrence, you need to understand what these indoor plant pests are.
Sciarids are dipterous, very small and barely noticeable insects that grow no more than 2 mm in length. As a rule, they can be gray and black. It is quite easy to notice insects, since these midges fly not only near the flower, but also spread throughout the living space.
Reproduction occurs by females laying eggs in moist soil. After a few days, larvae hatch, which subsequently cause enormous damage to the plant. Often, black midges breed in fuchsia.
Collembola white midges are dangerous for house plants
Springtails, or, in other words, springtails can be jumping or crawling insects. They are quite small in size and characterized by a white or grayish color. Their development and reproduction occurs in moist soil. Note that the larvae of these insects are capable of completely destroying the entire root system of plants.
As a rule, these midges most often appear in winter and spring. Springtails prefer to breed on pelargonium, orchid and geranium flowers. In addition, geraniums can harbor aphids, termites, and caterpillars.
Harm from parasites
Adult insects are dangerous for plants because they serve as carriers of many diseases, including viral ones (leaf curl, chlorosis, jaundice, necrosis, genesis, yellow mosaic).
The greatest damage to plants is caused by the larvae. Insects reproduce very quickly: the female lays eggs, and after 7-10 days the larvae appear. In a month, this pest lays from 150 to 300 eggs. Whitefly larvae are very voracious and feed on plant sap, which can lead to its death. They have four instar periods. The first period of the larva's age is mobile, and in subsequent periods, it digs into the plant and remains motionless until it becomes a moth. During this period, the leaves of the plant may wither, become covered with various spots, curl and fall off.
