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 carrot fly damage to the plantation. The pest appears in the beds for a number of reasons and causes serious damage to plants. Biological and chemical agents are used to control insects.

What is this pest

Small carrot flies: 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 cause harvest the main harm.

What does it look like

Characteristic features of an adult insect:

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

Signs of larvae:

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

The larvae are resistant to frost, hibernate in the roots remaining in the ground.

Important! The fly lays eggs twice a season: in early spring and early September. The eggs are placed on the root collar of the carrot. Having hatched, the larvae penetrate deep into the root crops, making deep passages in them.

Causes and harm

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

• violation of crop rotation, cultivation crops in one area for a long time;
• late sowing dates;
• heavy lean soil;
• fertilization with fresh manure;
• dense planting;
• watering the leaves (the smell from plants attracts pests);
• excessive moisture or dryness of the 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. Carrots change color, begin to dry out, and rot.

Symptoms of defeat

Plants damaged by carrot flies are easy to spot for:

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

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 use both chemical and folk remedies.

Chemicals

Chemicals work quickly and effectively.

They are used in several stages:

1. Before planting, the seeds are soaked in Prestige.
2. The insecticide "Karate" is sprayed in the aisles to repel insects.
3. For the destruction of larvae use "Mukhoed" or "Bazudin". The granules are laid 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, the basic rules are followed:

• apply insecticides in accordance with the growing season of carrots;
• observe the dosages specified in the instructions;
• processing is carried out in the evening or early in the morning, in calm weather, at an air temperature above + 20 ° C;
• use gloves, a respirator, special clothing.

Biological agents

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

Traditional methods

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

They are environmentally friendly, affordable, do not require large cash costs:

1. Tobacco dust - Dilute 100 g in 100 ml of water, add 50 g of slaked lime or wood ash. The mixture is applied to the soil between the rows. 8 g of the product is used per 1 m2. Processing is carried out 2-3 times per season with an interval of 10 days.Tobacco dust is mixed with ash and the bushes are powdered (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 kept for 2-3 days. Then add 20 g of grated laundry soap and process the plants.
3. Decoction of yarrow, burdock, chamomile - 1-2 kg of herbs are boiled in 8 liters of water (the consumption rate of the product is 2 m2 of the garden).
4. Infusion of garlic or onion - Chop 6 cloves of garlic or 1 kg of onion and pour in 1 liter of boiling water. Insist day, add liquid soap (20 g), dilute with water (1: 2).

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

By the way! To scare away insects, the tops of tomatoes or wormwood are scattered between the rows.

Agrotechnical techniques

To prevent the appearance of a pest, agricultural techniques are followed cultivation culture:

1. A fine mesh is pulled over the beds, at a height of 40 cm from the ground - the carrot fly will not be able to lay eggs. The method does not require large expenditures.
2. Onions and garlic are planted between the rows of carrots.
3. They choose varieties that are less susceptible to pest attacks: Nantes, Vitamin, Olympus.
4. Sowing begins immediately after the snow melts. Storage varieties are planted at the end of May.
5. Change the planting site of the culture every year. They return to the previous site not earlier than after 5 years.
6. For vegetables, choose a ventilated sunny place. Do not plant in lowlands.
7. The soil should be loose and light. Black soil is mixed with sand (1: 1).

Preventive measures

To prevent the appearance of midges on carrots, do the following:

1. The aisles are mulched with peat chips: the insect does not like soil saturated with peat.
2. The seeds are treated before sowing with warm water (+ 40 ° C): soaked for 2 hours, then dried and planted.
3. After thinning, the remnants of carrots are removed from the beds so as not to attract the smell of insects. The site is being dug up.
4. During the period of oviposition and pupation of larvae, 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. He began to use agricultural techniques: autumn digging of land, watering between rows, pollination of beds with ash and tobacco dust. As a result, I got rid of the problem, roots now grow even and undamaged. "

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

Sasha, Staraya Russa: “I plant carrots in elevated places that are well ventilated and well-lit. I constantly loosen the earth, 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, treated with chemicals.

Tobacco dust with ash, tomato tops, onions and garlic in the aisles will scare away flying insects. A garden net stretched over the beds prevents the fly from laying eggs.