Pickleworm and melonworm rarely attack watermelon. The principal insect and mite pests on watermelons in Florida are aphids, rindworms (caterpillars feeding on the rind, including beet and fall armyworms, cabbage looper, tobacco budworm, corn earworm, saltmarsh caterpillar, and others), whiteflies, and thrips.
What is eating holes in my watermelon?
Melon aphids, also known as cotton aphids (Aphis gossyppi). Melon aphids (Aphis gossyppi) and several other aphid species attack cucurbits, particularly melons and cucumbers. Melon aphids vary in size and color from light yellow to green to black.
What animal is eating my watermelon?
Animals such as squirrels, chipmunks, deer and woodchucks enjoy puncturing and eating melon crops. Coyotes and domesticated dogs also enjoy biting into sweet melons. Raccoons and birds make holes in the tops of melons and scoop or suck juices from the fruit’s inside.
What will eat my watermelon plants?
Watermelon Insects
- Thrips.
- Flea Beetles.
- Twospotted Spider Mites.
- Cabbage Loopers.
- Beet Armyworms.
- Grasshoppers.
- Leafminer Flies.
- Spotted & Striped Cucumber Beetles.
What do you spray watermelon with?
Insecticides Insecticides used in watermelon are: abamectin, esfenvalerate, diazinon, dimethoate, carbofuran, dicofol, methomyl, permethrin, carbaryl, endosulfan, imidacloprid, bifenthrin, beta-cyfluthrin, thiamethoxam, spiromesifin, fenpropathrin, dinotefuran, spintor, vydate, and fulfill.
How do you get rid of watermelon pests?
Use Soap Solutions
Soap solutions are an all-purpose way to get rid of numerous types of garden pests, including aphids on watermelon plants. Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid castille soap in 1 gallon of water, shake it well and spray all leaf surfaces, including the undersides of the leaves. This mixture dehydrates aphids.
How do I keep bugs from eating my watermelon?
Place melon cages over your watermelon plants to protect them from birds and animals. Spread a 3-inch (7.5 cm) layer of cedar or cypress mulch in your garden to naturally deter insects. Spray watermelon plants with insecticidal soap or neem oil to kill pest insects.
Do rats eat watermelon?
Rats, much like people, love sugary treats, and sweet fruits are no exception. Berries are especially a hit with rats. Be aware that red berries can turn a rat’s stool red, which can resemble blood. Other fruits to feed pet rats include pears, watermelon, cantaloupe, kiwi, peaches, plums and grapes.
What animal eats watermelon rinds?
Pigs are omnivores. They can eat plants and meat like humans do. They opt for sweet food over just any food. Pigs will enjoy watermelon in any of its parts: flesh, rind, and seeds!
How do I protect my watermelon farm?
Coolong stresses that the best way to protect vines is to turn them back in drive rows. Watermelon fields are set up in several groups of five or six beds that are divided by larger drive rows, which make the vines accessible by farm equipment.
Do mice eat watermelon?
Mice can eat the flesh of a watermelon, although the seeds should be removed prior to serving. It is also advised not to offer too much watermelon (as it is primarily water) and remove the harder, external fibrous flesh before offering.
How do I protect melons from rodents?
Step by step: How to keep rodents off your melons with melon cages
- Get hardware cloth.
- Cut square-sized pieces of hardware cloth large enough to complete encircle your mature melons.
- Secure a cylindrical shape with metal string.
- Create your wire end folds.
- Close one end of your melon cage.
- Cage your melon.
What does Epsom salt do for watermelons?
Flat, tasteless melons can be due to a lack of magnesium or boron in the soil. It has been found that such fruits can be sweetened by giving them a dose of Epsom salts and borax. For home garden use, use about 6 1/2 tablespoons of Epsom salts and 3 1/2 tablespoons of household borax, all added to five gallons of water.
What eats watermelon in the garden?
The two main pests that affect watermelons are aphids and cucumber beetles. Not only do these insects feed on the plants but they can also transmit viruses from plant to plant, which is often more damaging than the insect’s feeding. There are many different aphid species.
What food attracts a rat the most?
Fruit and berries — Out of all the foods rodents consume, their top two loves are generally fruits and berries. In the wild, rats and mice consume these foods at every opportunity. Therefore, raspberry and blackberry bushes — as well as apple and pear trees — can serve as magnets for the animals.
What food will lure a rat?
To catch a rat, you must rely on your bait. Traditional types of bait include cheese, peanut butter, bacon, cereals, or meats. However, rats can be picky.
To feed the black rat, try the following foods:
- dried fruit and berries.
- slugs, snails, or snail shells.
- nuts of all varieties and peanut butter.
- unflavored dental floss.
What attract rat most?
Smells and Odors that attract rats
Odors and smells that come from pet waste, pet food, garbage containers, barbecue grills, birdfeeders, and even from unharvested fruit and nuts from plants can attract rats and mice. Good sanitation habits can effectively improve the prevention of attracting rodents in your yard.
Do squirrels eat watermelons?
and tree squirrels (Sciurus spp.) are common pests for many gardeners, and can damage garden plants such as watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), which are hardy in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 11. Squirrels will eat vegetables in the seedling stage and may chew watermelon vines.
Do animals eat watermelon in garden?
Yes, animals like tree squirrels, rabbits, bugs, etc are common pests that damage garden plants such as watermelon plants. Raccoons and birds make holes throughout the melons which helps them to extract the sweet juice from within. Dogs also love the sweet taste of melons hence; they bite into them often.
Can rodents eat watermelon?
Benefits of Watermelon for Rats
For starters, rats love watermelon. Watermelon is sweet, and there’s little doubt that rats have a sweet tooth. But considering that rats eat just about everything, the simple fact that they’ll eat it doesn’t mean much. But watermelon is actually a good choice for rats.
What do raccoons eat watermelon?
Raccoons, deer, coyotes, and especially crows are all animals that might eat a watermelon if they found one. Cartoon Tribal Raccoon With Feathers, Vector Illustration. Even coyotes, another opportunistic omnivore, will eat watermelon, particularly as the fruit becomes ripe.