Cabbage heart midge
How to get rid of the pests
The larvae of the cabbage heart midge (also known as the cabbage gall midge) prefer to feed on the young leaves of cabbage plants. They release their poisonous saliva, which damages the plant tissue. The sap is used as food. However, this leads to twisting or deformation of the leaves, which can reduce yield. In the worst case, the larvae destroy the growing point, preventing the cabbage from forming.
Treatment
Mixing crops with tomatoes and celery and dusting with (algae) lime (especially in the heart, where the cabbage will grow later) will help as a preventative measure. Plant protection netting can also be used. A layer of mulch can also help. In case of infestation, a soft soap solution (20 g/0.7 fl. oz. of curd soap to 1 L/2.1 pt of water) can help. Beneficial insects such as birds, ground beetles or parasitic wasps are natural enemies of the pest.
Other information
Mosquitoes fly from May to August (16 - 22 ° C/60 - 71 ° F) and, after mating, lay several clutches of 15 - 25 eggs on cabbage plants. The white to yellowish larvae feed for 10 - 12 days before moving along the roots into the soil to pupate. The next generation of mosquitoes emerges after about 2 weeks.
Affected plants
Cruciferous vegetables such as mustard, radish and cabbage, especially broccoli.
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