What does poplar moth look like and how to deal with it?

With the arrival of the warm season, all nature around begins to come to life and wake up. Insects are no exception. But among them there are those whose awakening brings only harm. These include moths, with the activity of which everyone is familiar - it is she who eats things in the wardrobe. But in this article we will talk about its street type - poplar moth. Let's get to know it in detail, determine the causes of its appearance, the harm that it can cause, and also consider the methods of dealing with insects.

Poplar moth (motley) is a nocturnal pest that appears during the active flowering of poplar. It is a small winged insect belonging to the subspecies of butterflies, can easily enter the house through absolutely any gap or opening.

The poplar moth looks like a small moth. How do you recognize it? You need to take a close look at her front fenders. On them, a motley speckled pattern and velvety edging are pronounced - this is the hallmark of the insect. The hind wings of the motley are characterized by a calm steel color. Such an unusual color makes it possible for the poplar moth to be invisible to enemies.

The wings of an adult individual reach a length of 7 to 8 mm, the span is 11 mm. The poplar moth reproduces, laying the larvae, which are characterized by a bright yellow color, but gradually, as the insect matures, it becomes bright orange. Poplar moth larvae overwinter in the ground.

During the day, the motley is in the trees, hiding from the sun and other insects and birds, but at night it begins to be active. Adults do not eat: the energy that they received during their stay in the cocoon is quite enough for them.

The most dangerous and voracious are the larvae of the poplar moth. During the day, the larva feasts on the sweet sap of the trees, and at night it begins to destroy the leaves. In her diet, the foliage of poplar, apple, plum, pear.

The life of this pest is short and is only 72 hours. But even in such a short period of time, an adult capable of breeding lays several thousand eggs, from which larvae hatch after 10 days.

The habitat of the poplar moth is the street. She does not pursue the goal of getting inside the premises, because by and large she has nothing to eat in the apartment. If you noticed her in the house, there is only one conclusion - she, along with the fluff, flew through a window, door or ventilation duct. And it is also possible that the light was on in the house, and the insect, waking up at night, flew towards its lights.

There is nothing wrong with the appearance of the poplar moth in the house. She, unlike her fellow moth, does not eat down and fur products. This insect also does not bite, is not a carrier and vector of infectious diseases. It is more unpleasant for a person from the point of view of psychology, when you understand that pests live in your house.

If the poplar moth appears indoors, it will look for a warm and secluded place to lay its eggs. Most often these are lampshades, batteries or any other heating devices. To be more precise, it will look for a source of light and heat.Having chosen a suitable place, the moth will lay offspring there.

We have already said that poplar moth does not harm either a person or his clothes. The representatives of this type of winged pests are the most dangerous for green plants. In the cold season, there is little harm from the insect. Individuals feed on fallen leaves or bark. But when it's warm - that's another matter. The largest number falls on hot summers.

During the period when the poplar moth population reaches its apogee, the harm can be colossal. A large number of poplar moths live on:

• fruit bushes and trees;
• deciduous trees;
• flowers - most of all the insect likes rose, violet, chrysanthemum;
• greens - this can be parsley, dill, lettuce and other spices;
• vegetables - most often insects can be seen on cucumbers.

Most interestingly, the eating of each plant species is different:

• the crown of the apple tree is eaten by the so-called paths;
• in place of the leaves of the pear, where the poplar moth has been, there is a brown passage;
• leaves of flowers, especially rhododendron, are eaten completely;
• curly patterns and through points are noticeable on the leaves of the rose;
• traces of insect stay on cucumber melons and violet leaves resemble paths.

Be that as it may, there is no benefit from the invasion of the winged moth. The presence of a large number of poplar moths on a particular green tree or bush can lead to the death of the plant. If you notice that the leaves on the trees are either damaged, or begin to fall off for no apparent reason, then someone lives on them. And, most likely, this is exactly the poplar moth.

What to do to get rid of moths? There are several simple and effective methods that will help scare off adults and destroy their larvae, if there are any already in the house. You can fight a moth in different ways. Let's take a closer look at them, perhaps one of them will suit you and help remove winged pests from your home.

The first step is to go to a specialty store and buy special chemical compounds with which you can get rid of pests. You need to know that any chemical that moths are afraid of contains harmful substances in its composition, and they can harm human health. This must be borne in mind, especially if there are small children in the house.

Aerosols are most commonly used.

• Raptor. This is one of the safest and most harmless chemicals. It is characterized by a pleasant lemon scent and economical consumption.
• "Extramit". Has a rather pungent odor. After applying it, the poplar moth will disappear for about 6 months.
• "Armol". This is a very effective remedy. Harmless to human health. It does not leave any marks on contact with furniture.
• "Clean house". The tool is more than effective. With its help, it is possible to kill already adults and kill the larvae laid by them.

When using any of the above chemicals, be sure to read the instructions given by the manufacturer before spraying. Of course, there are general rules for the use of aerosols:

• absolutely all surfaces of all objects must be processed;
• after application, the chemical composition should remain on the surface for several hours;
• after a few hours, wipe everything well with detergent;
• ventilate the room well.

In addition to aerosols, you can use fumigators. It is an electrical device that plugs into a power outlet. Inside it there is an "aromatic" plate, which, when heated, emits an odor that is harmful to insects.

Fumigators are more effective and, on top of that, completely harmless to humans. Most often they buy Moskitoll or Raid.They are recommended to be used for large areas and if the insect population is insignificant.

The effect of using the fumigator is not immediately noticeable. The result can be observed in a couple of days, and if there are a lot of pests, then in a week.

Another equally popular and frequently used remedy for combating poplar moths are sections. This trap is best placed on walls or in closets. It contains a substance harmful to moths.

The sections are based on essential oils. The smell that comes from them is not cloying, but pleasant, fruity. Although effective, they do not harm the larvae.

In addition to the above substances, others can also be used. Various spirals, which are best placed on a balcony or loggia, pills and briquettes... It is in tablets and briquettes that a chemical reagent is contained that deprives adults of the opportunity to reproduce.

Whatever product is used, it is imperative to ventilate the room well and carry out wet cleaning afterwards. And don't forget about your own safety. Use personal protective equipment - gloves, mask and goggles. Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water after spraying the preparations.

You can remove pests from your home using not only chemicals, but also the good old folk methods. To combat poplar moths within an apartment, you can apply:

• laundry soap;
• orange or tangerine peels;
• lavender oil;
• geranium;
• sagebrush;
• garlic;
• tobacco.

As for the prevention of the appearance of poplar moths on the street, appropriate measures must be taken.

• In the fall, when all the leaves have already fallen from the tree, they must be collected in a heap and burned.
• Dissolve wasp beetles on the site, the main dish of which is the poplar moth and its larvae.
• If the tree or shrub is small, inspect it carefully in the spring when the leaves have already appeared. If there is damage, it must be removed.
• Special sticky traps can be hung on trees.
• Periodically, just not during the flowering period, water the plants with water from above. A stream of water washes away insects from the leaves.
• Spring oil can be used. Its smell repels pests.
• Sanitary pruning of trees and bushes.
• Use a non-woven fabric to protect the cucumbers. They can cover the melon, thereby protecting it from moths and not preventing the sun's rays from entering.

To prevent poplar moths from appearing in your home, you need to take preventive measures from time to time.

• Be sure to ventilate your home at least once a day. The moth prefers a humid habitat. If your apartment is fresh and the humidity level is normal, the moth will never start.
• From time to time, carefully inspect all things, bedding. After washing, it is best to hang them up to dry in the fresh air.
• Pillows and blankets must be dry-cleaned at least once every six months or, if possible, treated with a steam iron on their own.
• If there are old things in your wardrobe that you no longer wear, do not regret them, throw them away.
• Hang mosquito nets on your windows. They will perform a protective function and prevent bloodworms from getting inside.
• Very often, poplar moth lives in food, especially the pest is attracted by bulk products - cereals, pasta, sugar, flour. The ideal option would be to purchase special plastic containers or glass jars in the store for storing them.

The key to the absence of harmful flying insects in your home is cleanliness, comfort and order.Clean your home regularly, do a damp mop, and keep things clean and in place.