Allium Leaf Miner ,leek Moth and/or Onion Thrips

[geepee]

This past growing season my onion crop has been decimated by one or the other of the title bugs.....ie slots in leaves, green maggots/grubs in side (I do'nt really know which) leading to 'Floppy' growth and eventual death.However some did recover but resulted in very small bulbs ie Picklers

Research tends toward Leek Moth but opinions would be appreciated.

Is this going to be the 'Norm' Every year now or is it just a 'One off' occurrence and is there any control measures I can use ???

I grew Red Baron , Kelsae , and Golden bear from seed.
Mammoth Improved and Kelsae from bought in Plug plants
the problem did not appear until after the plug plants were transplanted .......would that give any clues ??
Gee

[Thelma Sanders]

The date of transplanting may be more of a clue, as I think the different flies arrive at different times.

Once it started it became a regular thing here, some still trust to luck, but the rest of us cover with enviromesh.

[Jungle Jane]

I'd cover them with a fine net,they'll be back,do they overwinter in the soil? Rotate crops just in case.

[Scarlet]

Nothing you can do except cover in net curtain or micromesh. We get them every year now here.

#Edit.....I have my silversmithing head on , enviromesh not micromesh

[Mr Bones]

Allium miner is a fly that produces small white maggots. The fly can squeeze through a 0.8mm gap so you need to cover with something like enviromesh fine (0.6mm mesh). They lay eggs spring and autumn but sometimes I think the fly isn't too aware of the exact times so best to protect a few weeks either side. Onions affected by allium miner typically develop wriggly leaves but leeks don't show much damage until the maggots eat the roots, then the leek dies.

Leek moth produce small green caterpillars that shred leek leaves. The plants can be protected with a reasonably fine mesh (like Scarlet says, net curtain) or you can wait until the caterpillars are making their way down towards the heart so no more eggs are being laid, then cut the tops right down to an inch above soil level. The leeks will recover.

[geepee]

Thanks Mr B

my leeks look ok apart fom a touch of rust .
It was Onions that was worst attacked, I cut an onion leaf open top to neck and found a GREEN caterpillar down towards the neck....!!!