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Iris Borers on Iris Bearded
How to identify and get rid of iris borers on Iris Bearded. Size: Up to 50mm (larva).
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Identifying iris borers on Iris Bearded
Pinkish caterpillar with a brown head that tunnels inside iris leaves and rhizomes; entry shows as watery streaks on leaf blades.
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Life cycle
Eggs overwinter on old foliage, hatch in spring; larvae tunnel through summer before pupating in soil near the rhizome.
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Damage to Iris Bearded
Larvae mine down through leaves into rhizomes, hollowing them out and often introducing soft rot that kills the plant.
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How to treat iris borers on Iris Bearded
Cut and destroy old iris foliage in autumn. Dig up and discard severely tunnelled, rotten rhizomes.
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Preventing iris borers on Iris Bearded
Remove and destroy all dead iris leaves each autumn to eliminate overwintering eggs.