Cabbage maggots are small insects that can have a huge impact on cole crops, such as cabbage, broccoli, turnips, rutabaga, radishes, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts.
The larvae live in the soil, feed on the fibrous roots, and then tunnel into the roots and stems.
These insects can totally destroy a crop.
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Read on to learn how to monitor and control this garden menace.
Identification, Biology, and DistributionCabbage maggots are usually found in the northern zones of the US, since cole crops are cool-season vegetables. However, they can also be found in warmer climates, such as the coastal regions of California.
Cabbage maggots are the larvae of Delia radicum, or the cabbage fly, which is also known as the cabbage root fly, root fly, or turnip fly. These are often mistaken for houseflies, although they are about half the size.
The white eggs are about 1/8 inch long and shaped like torpedoes. They are often laid in rows near the main stem of cruciferous vegetables.
The eggs are most likely to survive in cool, moist soil. If temperatures exceed 95°F in the top 2-3 inches of the soil, this will kill the eggs.
The maggots are about 1/3 inch long, white with no legs. They are pointed at one end.
Life CycleThese pests overwinter as brown pupae in the soil near the roots of fall crops.
The flies emerge from the soil in early spring in the north, and in the fall and spring in areas with warmer climates, such as California. They can travel as far as a mile to find host plants!
The adults will feed on pollen and nectar for 10 days or so, and then they lay their eggs at the
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