Insect
Allium Leaf Miner
A small fly whose larvae mine through leek and onion leaves and pupate inside the stems, leaving distinctive white puncture marks and causing stems to rot.
Symptoms to Look For
- Rows of white oval puncture marks along the length of leaves, made by females feeding
- Pale winding mines inside leaves
- Stems splitting open to reveal cream pupae in spring and autumn
Affected Plants
LeekOnionAlliumGarlicShallotChive
Organic Solutions
Insect mesh
Cover allium crops with fine insect-proof netting during the two adult flight periods in March - April and October - November.
Removal of infested plants
Pull and destroy heavily infested plants immediately to prevent pupae completing development in the soil.
Prevention
- Rotate allium crops to a new bed each year to reduce local fly populations
- Avoid growing alliums adjacent to last year's allium bed
- Check plants regularly during flight periods for the characteristic puncture marks
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.