Allium leaf miners are devastating pests of garlic, onions, shallots, chives, and leeks – and can destroy an entire crop.
These invasive insects are spreading rapidly throughout the mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions of the US.
Learn how to control then destructive pests with this guide.
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In December 2015, bucolic Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, was the location of the first confirmed infestation of the invasive allium leaf miner in the US.
Since then, this intruder has continued its inexorable march throughout Pennsylvania to Maryland, New Jersey, New York State, Massachusetts, and as of early 2020, Connecticut.
As its name suggests, this pernicious pest attacks high-value commercial crops like onions, garlic, leeks, chives, and shallots, as well as wild and ornamental Allium species.
It can totally destroy an allium crop and cause tremendous losses for commercial and home growers alike.
The allium aka onion leaf miner is a particular threat to organic and home gardeners, since they do not routinely treat their crops with synthetic insecticides.
Growers are highly concerned that this pest may migrate to the western US where onions are a major commercial crop.
As Cornell entomology professor Brian Nault told the Cornell Chronicle, “this has been a huge concern” for onion growers.
In this article, we will cover the biology and identification of these pests and the control measures that you can use to fight back against an infestation:
What Are Leaf Miners?The allium leaf miner (ALM), Phytomyza gymnostoma, is a true fly in the Agromyzidae family.
Native
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