Leek moth

[Capsid]

My leeks this year have been ravaged by the leaf miner. I can trace the path of the caterpillar down the stem ending where a nice brown pupa is overwintering. Fortunately, if I strip off enough leaves there is just enough stem left to get a meal out of them.

This is the first year that I have had a problem and read that the moth is migrating northwards, being only a problem in the south east. I'm in the midlands (Derby). I thought it might be interesting if grapes could post if they have got leek moth too and how far north it has got.

This thread posted by binley100 who lives in "Chaventry" prompted this post. I presume Chaventry means Coventry which is still south of me.

[binley100]

Yup Capsid it is indeed Coventry, not sure how many others on site have had it there's a meeting first Sat in Feb so might find out then ......My leeks weren't big enough to strip off outer leaves as I was late in sowing them. It's not the moth it's the allium leaf miner fly and the bug looks like this.........I shall be fleecing this year from the end of March to May and again end of Sept to Nov ..

[Capsid]

Yup Capsid it is indeed Coventry, not sure how many others on site have had it there's a meeting first Sat in Feb so might find out then ......My leeks weren't big enough to strip off outer leaves as I was late in sowing them. It's not the moth it's the allium leaf miner fly and the bug looks like this.........I shall be fleecing this year from the end of March to May and again end of Sept to Nov ..

OK, thanks for the correction. I do have the leaf miner. So my survey is moot given that the leaf miner is not migrating from the south. Actually, it seems to be a problem of the midlands first reported in Wolverhampton.

[binley100]

Don't know who sent it us but they can bl@ddy well have it back again

[hawthorns]

i had it 2 yrs ago and lost the whole crop so last yr i used enviromesh to protect and it worked a treat. i was attacked by leek moth for def.

[OllieMartin]

Do either of you have any other pictures of the insects or the plant damage you could upload please?
I'm trying to update some of the WikiGardener pages, but can't find find any decent images of damage.

Thanks

[binley100]

Sorry Ollie, that's the only pic I have and the leeks along with their invaders have now been cremated .......try this link , there are a couple of piccies and diagrams .....On page 4 they show the leek moth larvae and there is an obvious difference between the two grubs,,,,
http://www.nsalg.org.uk/uploads/arti...af%20Miner.pdf

[OllieMartin]

No worries, thanks for the link. Looks good for information, but I can't pinch the images as they're copywritten...copywritted...copywrittened...have copywright on them.

[binley100]

Ok ..no copyright on my piccie

[Capsid]

I went to the RHS site. There's a pic there.

Allium leaf miner / RHS Gardening Advice

If not I can take one at the weekend of the pupae.

[Hole Digger]

Hi Capsid,had a quick look at your blog, very good couldn't help noticing you had no cover on the onions,those will be next to be targetted by the dreaded allium leaf miner unless you cover up

[binley100]

The recommended cover up is for March and April and then again for October and November .......I've got my fleece at the ready..

[Capsid]

Hi Capsid,had a quick look at your blog, very good couldn't help noticing you had no cover on the onions,those will be next to be targetted by the dreaded allium leaf miner unless you cover up

Good point! Thanks for the advice.