Bug Killer

[gwgdog66 23]

I have some type of beetle (Black with a dark green back) in my back yard. They are under the turf, and tend to feed on dog Pooh. Keeps me from having to pick it up every day, but they are leaving dirt mounds all over my nice Meyers Z-52 Zoysia lawn

I've put down some Or-tho bug be gone, but that doesn't seem to phase them. Has anyone have experience with these little critters, and how did you get them gone?

Thanks

[rickv1957 74]

Gary,just teach the dog to pooh in the neighbers yard! Rick

[6wheeler 669]

I don't know what kind of bugs you have there in Ok. but, try some grub killer. Just a thought, the little buggers gotta lay eggs somewhere and its probably in the ground. Kill the larvae, Kill their future. Make sense? Just a question, is that zoysia grass any good? I read an ad for it and, if what they say is true, I NEED some.. Good luck and make the dog clean up after himself . Pat

[6wheeler 669]

<_< just remembered something Gary, I used Diazzinine once, and it killed everything. Fleas, Ticks,Grubs and all. But, remember while that and Triazzinine work good. They have a large drawback, in my opinion. They also remove earthworms, (a very beneficial that your lawn needs) So, you may need to do more aeriating. I used my spike aeriator instead of my plug aeriator for that. But, I thought it was worth it, and the worms came back in the 2nd year. The others, not so much... have fun Pat

[wh500special 2,267]

Call your county extension for a recommendation. They'll know what the beetles are and whether you can do anything about them.

6-wheeler: Regarding the zoysia...if you're in the "frozen north" I doubt you'd be pleased since it will spend a big chunk of the year in dormancy because it is cool. Dad is in Southern Illinois and his zoysia doesn't green up until late April and is already starting to turn brown again in September.

It's more of a warm climate grass. Grows so darn thick it chokes everything else out and doesn't need any watering. And it doesn't take much mowing either to keep it in check.

Might be a different story in OK.

Steve

[jla1257 2]

Try pyrethrin. You will not find it at a Home Depot or Lows type of store. You will have to go to a county coop or an Ag Way, Tractor Supply store type store. It comes in concentrated liquid form with instructions for different uses. It might be found in the dog or horse care isle because it is used for treatment of fleas, ticks and lice. In fact it is also used for treatment of head lice. It is extremely safe and nontoxic to humans and animals but deadly to bugs. I first used it to treat palmetto bugs in my mother-in-law

[gwgdog66 23]

<_< just remembered something Gary, I used Diazzinine once, and it killed everything. Fleas, Ticks,Grubs and all. But, remember while that and Triazzinine work good. They have a large drawback, in my opinion. They also remove earthworms, (a very beneficial that your lawn needs) So, you may need to do more aeriating. I used my spike aeriator instead of my plug aeriator for that. But, I thought it was worth it, and the worms came back in the 2nd year. The others, not so much... have fun Pat

That's what I was using until it couldn't be purchased at the home and garden stores. It did take care of everything, even the night crawlers.

The turf is great and doesn't grow real high either. Low and thick. My back yard is mostly shade and it does very well.

[gwgdog66 23]

Gary,just teach the dog to pooh in the neighbers yard! Rick

Trouble with that is she works for the local animal control office :USA:

[gwgdog66 23]

Call your county extension for a recommendation. They'll know what the beetles are and whether you can do anything about them.

6-wheeler: Regarding the zoysia...if you're in the "frozen north" I doubt you'd be pleased since it will spend a big chunk of the year in dormancy because it is cool. Dad is in Southern Illinois and his zoysia doesn't green up until late April and is already starting to turn brown again in September.

It's more of a warm climate grass. Grows so darn thick it chokes everything else out and doesn't need any watering. And it doesn't take much mowing either to keep it in check.

Might be a different story in OK.

Steve

I called the OSU Ag extension office today, and they said it was a dung beetle, very benificial to the cattle industry in getting rid of cow pie's. If I had cattle and big pastures I wouldn't mind them hanging around, i don't want them in my new turf.

They recommended a natural pure cedar oil, mixed with water using a hose end sprayer, would take care of the beetles, all other bugs, and larve, safe for pets and us humans. Wouldn't harm the turf.

I had to find a place online that carried it, I'll see how it works.

[MikesRJ 558]

Damn, looked at the prices of water soluble cedar oil. Pretty pricey stuff at 250.00/gal.

[jla1257 2]

Your cedar tree oil reminded me of Jerry Baker's recipes:

Rise-'n'-Shine Clean-Up Tonic

"This Tonic will roust your yard out of its slumber in spring, nailing any wayward bugs that were over wintering in the comfortable confines of your lawn"

1 C. Murphy's Oil Soap

1 C. Tobacco Tea*

1 C. antiseptic mouth wash

4 oz. Tabasco Sauce

Mix ingredients in a 20g. hose end** sprayer and apply to lawn to the point of run off.

Squeaky Clean Tonic

"This is a more powerful version of my All-Season Cleanup Tonic, and it really zaps the bad bugs in their tracks. Bugs just can't stand the citrus odor of the dish soap, but if they do come near, the Murphy's Oil Soap suffocates them on contact.

1 C. of antiseptic mouthwash

1 C. Tobacco Tea*

1 C. chamomile tea

1 C. Urine

1/2 C. Murphy's Oil Soap

1/2 C. of lemon-scented dish soap

Mix ingredients in a 20g. hose end sprayer** and apply to lawn to the point of run off.

* Tobacco Tea: Place one thumb and three fingers worth of chewing tobacco into a stocking and soak in one gallon of hot water. Soak until dark brown. Remove stocking and tobacco and store tea until needed.

** 20g. hose end spray is not actually 20g. it is about 1qt. in size but allows 20g. to flow through the sprayer and dilute the concentrated solution inside.

From Green Grass Magic by Jerry Baker