How to get rid of an onion fly: folk remedies and drugs against the winged "killer" of plants
Onions are one of the types of vegetables grown by gardeners. Many people know its pungent taste and specific smell. And it seems that this vegetable cannot have pests. But he liked the onion fly - an insect pest. But voracious larvae that emerge from eggs are dangerous for onions. There are time-tested folk recipes on how to deal with an onion fly. With the invasion of hordes of pests, chemicals help.
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Description of the onion fly
The onion fly is almost indistinguishable from the common fly, but it is slightly smaller. But the danger for the onion is the larvae, which, after being born, rush to their favorite delicacy and eat it greedily, while causing great harm to the crop.
Appearance
Life cycle
Reasons for the appearance of a pest in the beds
An onion fly can infect plantings for several reasons that gardeners can eliminate:
- Planting raw bulbs and seeds.
- Failure to comply with crop rotation rules.
- Late planting culture.
- A plot not dug up since autumn.
Knowing the causes of the appearance of insects, taking measures, you can reduce the number of harmful insects in the beds with onions.
Signs of onion fly damage
Although the activity of pests occurs underground, and their eggs are small and difficult to notice on the soil and plants, infestation can be seen by the way the plants develop. The first signs of damage:
- wilted or yellowed feathers;
- growth retardation and further drying of the onion;
- an unpleasant smell from the bulbs;
- signs of decay on their surface;
- a large number of larvae on the roots;
- rot inside plants.
Often the appearance of such signs leads to the death of the onion. But it is better to start pest control when the first signs appear.
Onion fly control methods
Various methods are used to control pests, many of them are very effective. These are chemicals and folk remedies. When growing onions for greens, it is better to use folk methods, since the bulbs can accumulate harmful substances and it is dangerous to eat such vegetables.
Onion fly chemicals
When spraying onion plantings with chemicals, it is important to follow the dosage indicated in the instructions, to withstand the treatment period. Do not apply chemicals 3 weeks before harvest. Spraying the beds is best done in dry calm weather, in the morning or evening.
Folk remedies for onion flies
Folk remedies are more used to repel insects, and onion beds should be treated with these remedies often, with an interval of 7-10 days. But they are safe for beneficial insects and do not harm human health.
| Маргацовка | It is used to reduce the number of onion flies. For processing, a solution is made: 1 teaspoon of potassium permanganate per 10 liters of water. The first treatment with a solution is done after planting, followed by an interval of 10 days. |
| Salt | A solution of salt in water has proven itself in the fight against onion fly larvae, but the disadvantage of this method is that an excess amount of salt appears in the soil. Onion processing is done when the feather grows 5-7 cm in height, for this they take 200 grams of salt per bucket of water, after watering a solution is poured under each bulb. After 3-4 hours, the salt is washed off the plants with clean water and the aisles are shed with a sufficient amount of clean water. Do 1 treatment per season. |
| Kerosene | The smell of kerosene repels flies from the beds. 10 tablespoons of kerosene are poured into 3 liters of water and onion plantings are poured with a freshly prepared solution, each plant under the root, without falling on the bulb. After a while, the beds are abundantly watered with clean water. During the season, 3 treatments with kerosene can be done with an interval of 14 days. |
| Vinegar | A bite or vinegar essence is used in the fight against the onion fly. 1 tablespoon of vinegar essence is diluted in a bucket of water and spilled between rows. Or the beds are treated with the same solution. |
| Ash | Ash is sprayed on the surface of the beds and then the soil is loosened. This treatment kills flies and larvae. A very effective remedy is obtained by mixing a glass of ash with tobacco dust and ground red pepper. You can treat the beds with such a tool once a week, 1-3 treatments will be enough for the season. You can water the plants 2 times a week with a solution of ash. Dissolve 2 cups of ash in a bucket of water and add 50 grams of laundry soap. |
| Tobacco dust | Tobacco dust is poured with hot water and left to infuse for 2-3 days. For 200 grams of tobacco dust you need 10 liters of water. In order for the infusion to adhere well to the surface of the plants, laundry or liquid soap is added, about 50 grams. Sprinkle the beds with dry tobacco dust, scatter 1 tablespoon per 1 square meter of area. Dry lime can be added to the dust in a ratio of 1:1. |
Other ways to fight and protect against onion flies
There are many other methods used to repel pests.
Marigolds and calendula can be planted next to onion beds. Their pungent smell will drive flies away from the plantings. Freshly picked and chopped wormwood is laid out between the beds, and changed to fresh as soon as the grass dries.
Pine needles, fresh or dry, keep flies away from onion plantings. It is scattered between rows after the first shoots appear. A tincture of young pine twigs is poured over the aisles. It is prepared as follows: 1/3 of the bucket is filled with chopped twigs, poured with water, and insisted under the lid for 3-4 days.
Naphthalene helps in the fight against the onion fly. Crush 10 ballet flats and add to half a bucket of sand. Sprinkle the mixture between the rows. Repeat the treatment after 7-10 days.
An infusion of mint or valerian is used to water the beds. Infusion of dandelion roots. 200 grams of roots are crushed, poured into 10 liters of water. Insist for a week, filter and process onion plantings.
The onion fly does not tolerate the smell of carrots, and the carrot fly does not tolerate the smell of onions, alternating rows of these plants will help protect vegetables from dangerous pests.
Preventive treatment for onion flies
Preventive measures help grow and preserve the onion crop. They include such simple methods:
- Compliance with crop rotation. Carrots and tomatoes are considered good predecessors of onions.
- Planting onions in winter or early spring. Before the onion fly appears, it will be possible to have time to carry out preventive tillage and a row.
- Inspect onions before planting, discard rotten or damaged bulbs.
- Process seed.
- Timely weeding and mulching of the soil with the help of special repellents.
- Shelter of onion beds during the flight of the fly, it is active in the morning and evening.
- Digging beds for the winter.