Leek pest.

johnnysteinmetz

Dear all, 

i have just returned from digging some leeks at my allotment to find they are all infested with a small reddy brown weevil type. The bugs are all aligned along the plant and are in the white flesh below soil level. The only pests I can find are the onion fly and onion leaf miner, but the leaves are fine and it doesn't look like the description of onion fly larvae. They are all sat individually in the plant and each has left a short trail straight up and down in the flesh which is looking pinky brown in colour. In 25 years growing leeks I have never seen this before. Any thoughts please?

Palustris

Leek moth? We seem to be getting attacked by a pest like this. Never seen it before though.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=652

Margaret-58

I also have this issue with my leeks. Is it leek moth or something else? Is there any thing to prevent or deter it for next year?

BobTheGardener

Covering them with enviromesh early in the season is the only thing which works.

David66

I have had this problem for the last 2 seasons. I think the track Mark's and discolouration are the trails left by larvae and the brown nuggets are the chrysalis (only about quarter inch long) forms of whatever insect is doing the damage. If I grow leeks again this year I will cover with mesh fleece to try keeping insects off. Do we know what they are? 

BobTheGardener

Allium leaf miner:

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=643

Allotment Boy

Like David 66 we have started to suffer this the last 2 seasons. There is a pheromone trap available (similar to apple & plum moth types) which will tell you when there is trouble  about. Mesh fleece seems to be the best idea though.