|
The onion maggot larvae cause damage by using their hooked mouth
parts to enter the base of the plant. First generation maggots
cause very noticeable damage to the seedlings, which first wilt
and then become flaccid. Frequently, attacked seedlings die before
the maggots are fully grown, forcing the maggots to move to adjacent
plants.
Second generation maggots feed on developing
bulbs, resulting in distorted growth accompanied
by rotting tissue, and further feeding
by third generation maggots on late season
onion bulbs also results in an unmarketable
product.
In addition, feeding and burrowing by
the maggot may introduce and spread fungal
and bacterial pathogens. Since the majority
of commercial onions are stored, infected
and rotting onions present a potential
for reducing quality of adjacent onions
in storage.
|
