by Matt Gibson and Katie Olson
Allium cepa maggots ( Delia antiqua ) can cause pregnant wrong to your home vegetable garden , specifically targeting plants in the Allium mob , such as onion plant , garlic , and leeks . discover these plague early is key to protect your craw . The adult onion plant fly resembles a greyish housefly , with a narrow abdomen , longer legs , and overlapping wings when at remainder . Keep an middle out for these fly sheet in your garden , as they position their egg near the base of operations of onion plant .
The testis of onion plant maggot are small , white , and elongated , often found in the soil near the flora ’s stem . Upon think of , the larvae emerge as creamy snowy , tapered maggot that appraise about 8 - 10 mm in length . These larva are the culprits behind the hurt to your plants , as they use their dependent mouthparts to fall into place the radical of the plant life and provender on its inner tissues .
To blemish the damage triggered by onion maggots , watch for wilt or give out onion seedling , as well as distorted lightbulb emergence in more mature flora . By learning to key these gadfly and the augury of their activity , you’re able to take timely action to protect your worthful Allium crops and secure a handsome harvest home .
onion are a democratic seasonal vegetable that portray itself in many colors and can be turn in the spring and the downfall . This vegetable can be eaten in multiple means with different dishes , and it provide a great reservoir of nutrition . Thequercetin in red onionsis even live to help crusade against cancer . However , onion flies , also known as onion maggots , can put a muffler on your vegetable garden if preventative measure are n’t shoot against them .
These irritating insects search out onions in the land in which to lay their eggs . Those eggs get into larvae that feast on the inside of the flora ’s electric light and root system of rules . Onion fly do not target onion plant alone . These vexatious insects also terrorise other plant life in the Allium kin , such as onions , garlic , and leeks .
All throughout the wintertime , the onion plant fly pupae stay quick inside the soil . When they eventually amount out of concealing as adults in the spring , they often move up to a Swedish mile by in search of a estimable onion plant flora to junket on . When the yellow rocket weed are in salad days along the route , you’re able to put money on the chance that onion fly have arrived along with them . If the grease near onion crops stays cool and moist , the onion fly are destined to thrive . If soil temperature rise above 95 degrees Fahrenheit , the Allium cepa flies will conk off .
How Can Gardeners Control Onion Flies?
Although these flies can induce life-threatening impairment to your budding onion crop , there are steps you’re able to take to keep your vegetable healthy and edible . The observe backsheesh can help oneself you maintain a strong provision of onion from your garden in any uprise season .
Nematodes
Beneficial nematode worm are an effective , natural means to verify onion plant maggot in your garden . These microscopical , soil - dwelling being , particularly the species Steinernema feltiae , actively look for out and parasitize the larvae of various pests , including onion maggot . To use nematodes in your garden , plainly mix them with water according to the software pedagogy and apply the solution to the soil around your Allium plants .
Nematodes are most efficacious when soil temperature are between 60 - 90 ° F , and the soil is moist but not waterlogged . Keep the soil consistently damp for the first hebdomad after coating to assure the nematodes establish themselves and start hunting down the Allium cepa maggots . As an added incentive , good nematode worm are safe for humans , pets , and good insects , making them an eco - favorable choice for keep your garden goodly and thriving .
Sticky Cards
One tool for bar that ’s abject maintenance for any gardener is using viscid fly traps . It is best to purchase xanthous gluey cards because the flies are attracted to bright color . you could then attach the cards to pocket-sized wire stakes and plant them in the soil near your onions . The flies will be trap when they land on the card , lured in by the bright shade . For honorable consequence , change out the viscid cards twice a calendar week .
Floating Row Covers
Floating wrangle covers , also called reemay textile , are another tool gardeners can use to keep grownup onion flies from being able to lay their eggs on your clutch of growing onions . This method is best used after the onion seed are first planted in the ground . forget the screen up from the time you first plant your crop until you glean the fully grown onion .
Crop Rotation
you’re able to also ight onion fly by rotate your onion plant craw . After each rise time of year , it is also important to till the soil in your garden to destroy any larvae still underground , get rid of industrial plant debris , remove any remnant onions and pluck incandescent lamp , and verify there are n’t any topographic point for onion maggot pupa to hole up in your garden . Your future self will thank you once give roll around .
Bury or Haul Away Cull Piles
Culled bulbs , also squall cull or cull piles , heap up at the floor of onion plants naturally . They job is , they render a consummate place for onion plant flies to make babies and a cozy place to position their eggs . withdraw these naturally come animal comforts as often as possible , maintain your garden beds clean and secure from pestis like the onion plant fly that like to burrow and set up camp in cull rafts .
Raised Beds
To assist insure further protection of your onion plants , point your seeds in raise bed instead of flavorless plots or containers . The onion plant maggot choose slower drain dirt , and by using raised bed , you’re able to take the chance to replace the dirt as needed and keep it well drained .
Time Your Planting
The first generation of onion maggots is always the largest , and therefore it can cause the most equipment casualty to your plant . To keep the first contemporaries from attack your onions , set them in your garden as lately in the season as possible . This way , it will be too hot for the onion flies to survive by the clock time your onion plant lead off to grow .
you’re able to also typeset out your onion plant seminal fluid before outpouring if the weather permits . Then by the clip the onion plant fly ball attempt to launch an attempt against your vegetables , they will already be quick to glean already . It ’s also important to observe that white onion are more prostrate to the flies invasion . Instead , a pestilence - savvy gardener may choose to plant red Allium cepa and Japanese bunching onions , which are somewhat more resistant to damage from the maggots .
Organic Methods
you could also sprinkle the arena in your garden where you ’ve set your onions with solid ground jalapeno , black pepper , ginger , dill weed or chili pulverisation as a repellant against the females that can prevent onion fly egg from being laid . you could apply sand , Ellen Price Wood ash , or diatomaceous earth to the fundament of the plant to naturally deter the flies as well .
Insecticides
While insect powder may appear to be a surefire way to cure your onion fly front problem , gardeners should go forward with caution . The insects have developed some underground to insect powder , so consult your local gardening expert before purchasing chemicals for your garden or apply them to your plant life . insect powder are also somewhat counterproductive when it comes to getting free of Allium cepa tent-fly , as the chemical substance tend to also repulse away the beneficial insects that feed on onion plant flies and their larvae , such as the keep onion fly cognoscente , the predatory undercoat beetle .
Purge Your Soil
If you discover that an area of your garden has been infected by Allium cepa maggots , the experts recommend getting rid of that soil . However , if the area is too with child for easy remotion , you’re able to try the follow recipe to prohibit the flies . Puree peppers , ail and onion in a liquidiser . Then bring urine and constitutional easy lay , and let the assortment pose for a day . Finally , extend out the solid , and use the liquidness to drench the infected areas of dirt well .
If onion flies are make for havoc on your garden , there are slew of steps you could take to nip the job in the electric light . We round up these helpful tips to provide you with the most foolproof ways for every nurseryman , no matter of acquisition level , toharvest a successful onion crop they can then dry out to uphold novelty , store , and enjoy at any fourth dimension of the year .
Want to Learn More About Fighting Onion Flies?
National Onion Association covers All About onion
University of Massachusetts Amherst covers Onion Maggot
Organic Gardening News & Info covers Organic Control of Onion Maggots
Weekend Gardener covers Onion Maggots
Plantwise Knowledge Bank extend Onion Fly
