[digalotty]

onion fly is rife on our lotty and i have been affected , what can i do ,   is there a treatment and should i try again with them , im assuming its to late to replant or is it

[digalotty]

i have been told that i can treat the ground and replant but what do i treat it with

[prakash_mib]

from dr. hessions pest and weed expert
Onion fly
the tell-tale sign of this onion pest is yellow drooping foliage. the 8 mm white maggots burrow into the base of the bulbs -- young plants are frequently killed and older ones fail to develop properly.  attacks are worst in dry weather. Firm the soil around the plants -- hoe regularly. remove all thinnings from the site. grow from setts rather than seeds.
"thats a very bad book"
from dr. hessions vegetable and herb expert
description: same as above
treatment: lift and burn badly affected plants.
Prevention: no chemical for soil treatment before planting is available (he has mentioned atleast no cure available here..  ). destroy all thinnings, damaged leaves and infested bulbs -- firm the soil around the plants. if onion fly is a regular problem grow onions from sets rather than seeds.

[digalotty]

hi prakash i have used bulbs,  and i have also read that tha maggots can stay in the ground and re infect , is there anything that will kill them off now they are here

[prakash_mib]

now????mmmmmmmmmmm....................
no....
mmmmmmmmm..... bad.... mmmm.... (capello style)
the maggots should turn into fly. They cant live in soil for longer.
dig/rotavate  the patch to expose the ones to be eaten by birds or the frost to kill them.

[Salmo]

Is your problem onion fly or is it leek moth as these also attack onions. The reason I mention this is that Birmingham is one of the areas where leek moth is bad. I know little about this pest but someone else may do so.

From what I do know onion fies lay their eggs on the soil and the maggots burrow into the base of the bulb. Only onions grown from seed are usually affected. Leek moths lay their eggs on the leaves and the caterpillars burrow down between the leaves into the bulb. Have you found any grubs? Are they maggots with no head or legs (onion fly) or are they catterpillars with a head and legs9leek moth)?