What are the damage characteristics of leek midge?
Leek midge belongs to the order Diptera, family Sciaridae, and is the larva of the leek late-eye fungus gnat, a major underground pest of leeks. In spring and autumn, the larvae gather underground and bore into the young tender bulbs of leeks, causing the leaves to become thin and yellow, the roots to break and the plants to wilt, and finally to die. Therefore, for the control of leek midge, one should master agricultural measures, biological control and chemical...
The larvae gather on the underground bulbs and stem bases of leeks. Newly hatched larvae first damage the base of the leaf sheaths and the upper end of the bulbs. In spring and autumn, they mainly damage the young stems of leeks, causing rot and making the leeks turn yellow and die. In summer, the larvae bore downward into the bulbs, and in severe cases the bulbs rot, causing the clumps of seedlings to die.