Seedcorn maggot
Description: The seedcorn maggot (Hylemya platura) is the larva of a fly that resembles a housefly. The larvae are yellowish-white, 0.25 cm long when fully grown, legless and wedge-shaped with a pointed head. The pupae are brown, 0.20 cm long, cylindrical in shape and rounded at both ends. The flies are dark grey, 0.20 cm long and their wings are held overlapping their bodies while at rest. This pest can be potentially serious every year. Life cycle: These pests overwinter as dark pupae in the soil. The adult flies emerge in April. They are attracted to areas with high levels of organic matter where they lay their eggs.. Once the eggs hatch, the pale yellowish-white, legless maggots begin tunneling into the newly planted seeds. There are three generations a year, but the first generation larvae which feed between 13 April and 1 June are the most damaging. Damage: Damaged seeds may fail to germinate or may produce stunted plants. Management: If seedcorn maggots have been a problem in past years, several steps to prevent future outbreaks include the disking or ploughing cover crops into the soil at least four weeks before planting. This allows the organic matter to decompose before the seeds are planted. Planting should be done in warm soils to speed up germination and to shorten the period that the crop is susceptible to damage. Insecticidal seed treatment must follow if plowing cover crops early enough is difficult and when the soil is too cool for rapid germination. . |
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