Why are carrot flies dangerous and how to effectively deal with them?

Carrots are an unpretentious crop, but it happens that vegetables grow crooked and with deep damage in the middle. These are signs of a plantation being damaged by a carrot fly. The pest appears in garden beds for a number of reasons and causes serious damage to plants. Biological and chemical agents are used to control insects.

What kind of pest is this

Carrot flies are small in size: up to 4 mm. These flying insects are almost invisible to the human eye. They reproduce by laying eggs, from which larvae emerge. They are the ones who apply harvest main harm.

What does it look like

Characteristic signs of an adult insect:

• black color;
• elongated transparent wings with veins;
• the paws are yellow, the head is reddish;
• The abdomen is shiny with light fluff.

Signs of larvae:

• color light yellow;
• length - up to 5 mm.

The larvae are resistant to frost and overwinter in root crops remaining in the ground.

Important! The fly lays eggs twice per season: in early spring and early September. The eggs are located on the root neck of the carrot. Having hatched, the larvae penetrate deep into the root crops, making deep tunnels in them.

Causes and harm

There are several reasons for the damage to an area by these insects:

• violation of crop rotation, cultivation crops in one area for a long time;
• late sowing dates;
• heavy, poor soil;
• fertilization with fresh manure;
• dense planting;
• watering on the leaves (the smell from the plants attracts pests);
• excessive moisture or dry soil.

Despite its small size, the carrot fly is a dangerous pest. Penetrating deep into the root crop, the larvae make many holes, damaging the plant from the inside. The carrots change color, begin to dry out, and rot.

Symptoms of the lesion

Plants damaged by carrot flies can be easily identified by the following signs:

• the leaves wither and gradually change color, becoming purple or yellow;
• the culture stops growing;
• root crops dry out.

How to fight

Depending on the degree of damage to the plantings, the area of ​​the site and the desire to grow environmentally friendly harvest Both chemical and folk remedies are used.

Chemicals

Chemicals act quickly and effectively.

They are used in several stages:

1. Before planting, soak the seeds in Prestige.
2. The Karate insecticide is sprayed between the rows to repel insects.
3. To destroy the larvae, use “Fly-eater” or “Bazudin”. The granules are placed in the ground in the fall, under the digging.

The drugs are toxic, their decomposition period is 30 days. After processing, root vegetables are not eaten.

When using chemicals, adhere to the following basic rules:

• apply insecticides in accordance with the growing season of carrots;
• follow the dosages indicated in the instructions;
• treatment is carried out in the evening or early morning, in calm weather, at air temperatures above +20°C;
• use gloves, a respirator, and special clothing.

Biological agents

These substances are more gentle. Fitoverm is effective against carrot flies. The solution is prepared in the following proportion: 10 ml per 5 liters of water. Spray the leaves and soil.

Traditional methods

To grow an environmentally friendly crop, folk remedies are used to control pests.

They are environmentally friendly, affordable, and do not require large financial outlays:

1. Tobacco dust - 100 g are diluted in 100 ml of water, add 50 g of slaked lime or wood ash. The mixture is applied to the soil between the rows. For 1 m2 use 8 g of product. Treatment is carried out 2-3 times per season with an interval of 10 days. Tobacco dust is mixed with ash and powdered on the bushes (1–1.5 cm layer).
2. Tomato tops - 3 kg of plant residues are finely chopped, placed in a saucepan, poured with boiling water and left for 2-3 days. Then add 20 g of grated laundry soap and treat the plants.
3. Decoction of yarrow, burdock, chamomile - boil 1-2 kg of herbs in 8 liters of water (consumption rate is 2 m2 of bed).
4. Infusion of garlic or onion - Chop 6 cloves of garlic or 1 kg of onion and pour in 1 liter of boiling water. Leave for 24 hours, add liquid soap (20 g), dilute with water (1:2).

Treatment is carried out once a week, in the morning or evening, after sunset.

By the way! To repel insects, tomato or wormwood tops are scattered between the rows.

Agrotechnical techniques

To prevent the appearance of the pest, follow agricultural practices growing crops:

1. A fine mesh is placed over the beds, at a height of 40 cm from the ground, so that the carrot fly will not be able to lay eggs. The method does not require large financial expenditures.
2. Onions and garlic are planted between the rows of carrots.
3. Choose varieties that are less susceptible to pest attacks: Nantes, Vitamin, Olympus.
4. Sowing begins immediately after the snow melts. Varieties intended for storage are planted at the end of May.
5. The planting location of the crop is changed every year. They return to their original site no earlier than after 5 years.
6. For vegetables, choose ventilated, sunny places. Do not plant plants in lowlands.
7. The soil should be loose and light. Chernozem is mixed with sand (1:1).

Preventive measures

To prevent midges from appearing on carrots, do the following:

1. The row spacing is mulched with peat crumbs: the insect does not like soil saturated with peat.
2. Before sowing, the seeds are treated with warm water (+40°C): soaked for 2 hours, then dried and planted.
3. After thinning, the remaining carrots are removed from the beds so as not to attract insects with the smell. The area is being dug up.
4. During the period of egg laying and larval pupation, plants are not watered from above.

Reviews

Each gardener has his own ways of dealing with pest.

Evgeniy, Samara: «The carrot fly used to be a frequent visitor to my garden. I began to use agricultural techniques: digging up soil in the fall, watering between rows, pollinating the beds with ash and tobacco dust. As a result, I got rid of the problem, the root crops now grow evenly and undamaged.”

Irina, Perm: “For a long time it was not possible to grow a good harvest of carrots: a fly was a nuisance and severely damaged the root crops. I didn't know how to deal with it. The garden net helped. I stretch it on the beds (height - 30 cm).”

Sasha, Staraya Russa: “I plant carrots in elevated places, well ventilated and lit. I constantly loosen the soil, this prevents the fly from laying eggs. It helps me".

Conclusion

Violation of crop rotation, close planting, improper watering, heavy soil composition are the main reasons for the appearance of the pest. To avoid the problem, the seeds are pre-soaked in water and treated with chemicals.

Tobacco dust with ash, tomato tops, onions and garlic between the rows will repel flying insects. A garden net stretched over the beds prevents flies from laying eggs.