Does Sevin (dust or spray) kill Earthworms?

[SaltyNuts]

I've been using this. It supposedly kills like 300 or 500 insects or something crazy. So can it kill earthworms? That would suck if so.

Thanks!

 

[LurchFrinky]

Without actually doing the research myself, I am pretty sure you are safe.
I believe Sevin works on contact for all of the critters that crawl on your plants and isn't actually absorbed into the plant or ground. It might kill the odd earthworm that comes to the surface, but most should be safe.
Maybe you could do a quick search on how it works to verify.

 

[SaltyNuts]

Without actually doing the research myself, I am pretty sure you are safe.
I believe Sevin works on contact for all of the critters that crawl on your plants and isn't actually absorbed into the plant or ground. It might kill the odd earthworm that comes to the surface, but most should be safe.
Maybe you could do a quick search on how it works to verify.

Well, shit. I took your advice, and it seems you are 100% wrong. Look at this link:

http://www.walterreeves.com/tools-and-chemicals/pesticide-toxicity-to-earthworms/


Go down to "Very Severe Toxicity". See what is listed there. Sevin. FUK FUK FUK.

 

[LurchFrinky]

Ouch man. Sorry about that.
I knew it was effective/toxic to a lot of bugs, but I did not know it did such a number on the earthworms.
If you are using it on a few vegetable plants you might have limited exposure, but if you have it on the ground/lawn, well that really sucks.

 

[lxskllr]

Worms are bad, I wouldn't particularly worry about them, but I'm anti chemical on principle. I don't need anything bad enough to worry about it.

Cancel Earthworms

The “crazy worms” remaking forests aren’t your friendly neighborhood garden worms. Then again, those aren’t so great either.

www.theatlantic.com

 

[SaltyNuts]

Ouch man. Sorry about that.
I knew it was effective/toxic to a lot of bugs, but I did not know it did such a number on the earthworms.
If you are using it on a few vegetable plants you might have limited exposure, but if you have it on the ground/lawn, well that really sucks.

Haha, no worries, much appreciated LurchFrinky! Now I know to spray it on the leaves VERY sparingly, and try to find something else to use instead mainly. Like dish soap haha.

 

[Gardener]

What are you trying to treat?

 

[SaltyNuts]

What are you trying to treat?

Beasties that are eating my crop! Some worms, but I think lots are bugs. But this Sevin stuff seems to have kept them at bay, just hate it might be killing the earth worms as well. I'll try and get some shots of the leaves with holes to show you. Thanks!

 

[Gardener]

A few thoughts: Go out at night with a flashlight, check for insects then. If the insects are soft bodied, insecticidal soaps are effective. There are also biological agents for leaf-eating insects that kill by plugging the digestive systems of insects, products like the bacterial control BT (Bacillus thuringiensis).

Additionally, some level of insect damage is acceptable...especially if the plant is still generally healthy. Many plant's leaves develop their own toxins as they mature. Try eating an old lettuce leaf, that bitter taste is the plant's own defense.

When you are planting in raised beds, leave some space...crowding = stress = more susceptible to insect damage. Crowding also blocks airflow, so foliar bacterial and fungal problems spread quicker.

Research Integrated Pest Management, one of its tenets is not to kill beneficial insects that naturally control pests.

I'm not an advocate of using Sevin on fast growing garden veggies that your family eats. It kills bees and beneficial insects, not good for mammals either.