Physical Remedies
Sticky barrier
Examples:
Tanglefoot, Tangletrap.
Effective Against:
Root weevils, ants (which crawl up plants to tend aphids).
Crops:
Rhododendrons, trees.
Counteracts these pest(s):
When To Use:
Any time that damaging insects are traveling up and down stems or trunks of plants. Ants are not usually a problem unless the aphid population is extreme on the host plant, in which case interrupting the ant traffic with a sticky barrier can be helpful in controlling the aphids. (Ants protect aphid populations from predators in order to harvest the sweet substance they produce.).
How To Use:
Read the label before using. Squeeze out the material and use a putty knife or flat piece of wood to spread it into a band at least four inches wide around the trunk of the plant.
For immature plants, wrap the trunk first with a protective layer of waterproof tape or paper and spread the barrier on top of the tape.
The material is very sticky, so try to avoid getting any on yourself or your clothing. Be sure that the treated trunk is the only access route. Prune back branches or leaves that touch the ground, fences, or other plants.
Benefits:
Highly effective, non-toxic, easy to use.
Concerns:
Traps some harmless or beneficial insects, so should not be used indiscriminately. May have to be used in combination with other controls. Paint thinner is required to clean any tools that come in contact with the material.