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Carrot fly
Psila rosae
PestMedium impact
A root-feeding pest whose larvae tunnel into carrot roots, making them poor quality or inedible. It is most active from late spring into autumn.
Currently in peak season - extra vigilance worthwhile.
Key facts
- Type
- Pest
- Active season
- May - Oct
- Peak season
- May - Sep
- Vulnerable stages
- Sown · Growing · Harvesting
- Spread rate
- slow
- If confirmed
- Act soon
Signs & symptoms
- -rusty brown tunnels or scars in carrot roots
- -slender creamy-yellow maggots inside damaged roots
- -weakened or wilting foliage on affected plants
- -damage becoming obvious when roots are pulled
Management
Do now
- -Remove impacted crops
- -Immediately cover entire crop area with full insect-proof netting
- -Biological control with nematodes may help in some cases
Prevention
- -Sow sparsely to avoid thinning where possible
- -Use insect-proof netting when thinning is expected or practicing crop rotation
Resistant varieties
Further reading
- -Most active from May to October
- -Later sowing can help avoid the first generation (May-June)
- -Harvesting before late August can help avoid the second generation
- -Thinning is a major attractor of egg-laying females