Parsnip pests

Learningslowly

Just noticed these little blighters munching away on my parsnip leaves.  Any ideas what they are and how to deal with them please?

mollis

I have the same problem I  only noticed today. Also on the carrot foliage. I've never had anything like this before.

I've taken off the affected foliage but dont know how the roots will be affected.

Does anyone have any experience of  this?

Learningslowly

I did the same and cut off and binned affected leaves.  Some other leaves have also started to curl and turn dark glossy green but there is no obvious sign as to why.
It's been a bad year for pests this year, my beans have been murdered by blackfly and I had to bin the summer brocolli and cavolo nero because of severe whitefly infestation - the insect netting trapped then perfectly ... inside!

Learningslowly

I asked the RHS for their advice and received the following answer this morning:

Your parsnips have been affected by the leaf skeletoniser moth, Epermenia chaerophyllella. In gardens this insect seems to be more frequently associated with parsnip than any of its other host plants but it can feed on a wide range of plants in the Umbelliferae including carrots.

This insect has two generations during the summer months with larvae usually being found during May to June and again in August to September. The overwintering stage is the adult moth that hides away in sheltered places such as in conifer hedges or other dense shrubs. Where possible the caterpillars can be removed by hand. 

The RHS didn't say whether the roots will be affected by the pest.

mollis

Thanks for that info. I'll just pick off affected leaves and hope for the best.

I agree it's been a dreadful year for pests.