Jerry Brust, IPM Vegetable Specialist, University of Maryland; jbrust@umd.edu
The unusually warm winter and early spring we have had up to now has allowed large populations of seed and root maggots to invade our vegetable fields. Some farms have been hit particularly hard in their onion, bean, pea or radish crops this season by maggots. These maggots include seedcorn maggot Delia platura (SCM), onion maggot Delia antiqua (OM) and cabbage maggot Delia radicum (CM). All three species overwinter in the soil as a maggot inside a brown pupal case (Fig. 1). In March and April small, grayish-brown flies (Fig. 2) emerge, which are usually SCM or CM, OM flies usually peak 2-3 weeks later. Adult flies are most active from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and are inactive at night, in strong winds or when temperatures are below 50o F or above 80o F. Adults live 2-4 weeks and females lay hundreds of eggs.
Figure 1. Seed maggot larvae and pupae
Figure 2. SCM adult
Seedcorn maggot eggs are oviposited in soils with decaying plant material or manure. Onion maggot females lay eggs in soil near onion plants. Female cabbage maggot flies seek out and lay eggs on the lower portions of stems of young host seedlings or in nearby cracks in the soil. Some wild crucifers, such as yellow rocket, are important hosts for cabbage maggot and are especially important for their overwintering success; when these weeds are abundant they can lead to heavy infestations of spring crucifers. Add this weed component to the very mild winter we had and infestations are almost assured in many fields. The adults are also attracted to the organic media around the roots of transplants and germinating seeds. Within a few days the eggs hatch and the tiny maggots burrow down to the roots and into stems and begin feeding.
Larvae of seedcorn maggots attack seedlings, feeding on the developing roots and stem. Their damage is usually restricted to the early seedling stage. SCM larvae will move into small stems and move up the plant causing a swelling of the stem just above ground level, while also causing root collapse and decay. If these stems are split you usually can find the white cylindrical larvae (Fig. 3). Onion or cabbage maggots inflict similar damage but usually continue to feed on the expanding bulb during later stages of growth (Fig. 4). A single maggot can destroy up to 20 small seedlings. Either SCM or OM can attack onion bulbs, while SCM also can attack vegetable seeds and transplants. Complete larval development requires 2-4 weeks. Maggots then enter a pupal stage that lasts another 2-4 weeks. There are 3-4 generations per season in our area, with the most destructive being the spring and fall generations. When wilted transplants or newly emerging seedlings are inspected in the field, maggots are sometimes not found (they have already pupated), but their tell-tale damage appears as hollowed out seeds or stems and roots held together by a few strands of plant material.
Figure 3. Seed maggots in stem of plant
Cultural Controls: Avoid planting in soils that have a great deal of non-decomposed organic matter, such as fields with manure or compost applications or a heavy cover crop or are very weedy. Rotate early season crops away from any areas that had onions or crucifers last fall. Early spring-planted crops are more likely to be damaged when the soil is too cool for rapid germination and emergence. If serious infestations are expected, wait until the soil warms up in the spring. Recently seeded or transplanted crops should be covered with floating row covers, which act as barriers against any of the root maggot flies. Do not use row covers where onions or brassicas were grown the previous year. When soil temperatures increase and maggot first-flights end, the row covers can be removed.
Figure 4. Seed maggot damage to turnip bulb
Chemical Management: The use of treated seed (Trigard ST or chlorpyrifos – commercially treated onion seed only) or soil application of an insecticide gives good to moderate control of SCM, CM and OM. There are several ways to apply an insecticide to the soil at or right after planting: 1. Through low pressure drip or trickle irrigation, 2. An in furrow spray directed on or below the seed, 3. A narrow (< 2 inches) surface band spray over the seed line during planting that is incorporated to a depth of 1 – 1½ inches with sufficient irrigation within 24 hours of application, 4. A post seeding drench, transplant water drench, or hill drench. Unfortunately there are not many chemicals that can be used for control, however some of the chemicals that can be used for seed maggot control include: 1. Chlorpyrifos (Lorsban) onion dry bulb only, 2. Cyantraniliprole (Verimark) (for peas and beans it will suppress seedcorn maggots) 3. Imidacloprid has been found by many growers to work well for maggot control when soil applied for other pests. 4. The post planting sprays of malathion or pyrethroids are meant to control or reduce the adult fly populations and will do little to control maggots already present in the soil. The use of these products can vary depending on the particular crop so be sure to check the label before using.