Topic: Can you identify this leek eating caterpillar?

[mhj75]

Hi all. Just wondering if anyone can tell me what this caterpillar is? It has ravaged my leek crop. They seemed fine a couple of weeks ago, then I noticed the foliage was wilting. The caterpillars had started at the top of the plant and burrowed down through. Every leek in the patch was affected, and I lost 90% of the crop.

The picture shows one of the 'better' ones. You can see how the little beast poking his head out of the hole in the middle. They're cream/light green colour and about 1-2cm long, and 1-2mm wide. They have a red or grey head. They did most of the damage in early september.

One of my books (Hessayon) has similar-looking caterpillars affecting the roots, but these definitely started at the top and worked down. Any ideas?

[Bugloss2009]

it seems to be a leek moth. I've never seem one and that's because theyr'e a new pest it seems. They're in the south only at the moment, and moving inland from the coast, like the bit at the start of Dad's Army. That's you then in Brizzle

http://transitionculture.org/2009/09/28/attack-of-the-killer-mutant-leek-moths/

[shirlton]

Alium moth. Rife in the midlands. We have to net everything in the onion family.

[mhj75]

Oh crikey.

Well, thanks for letting me know. Leeks are my favourite vegetable so I'm gutted about this. Seems like the only solution is to net them then. What a hassle --- onions have been one my most successful crops and this is going to turn them into a lottery.

One possible bonus? Perhaps Daily Mail readers will start to believe climate change is real when it affects gardening!

[chriscross1966]

Got them in both swindon and oxford.... if you cut off the leek under the damaged bit it will grow back (won't be as big as it could have but at least you get somethign)..... remind me to environmesh my leeks next year someone...... thanks.....

chrisc

[Tee Gee]

I agree that it is a leek moth larvae! see her;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Data/Leek%20moth/Leek%20moth.htm

[mhj75]

What would you recommend planting them under? The article suggests horticultural fleece. If they were under fleece would that affect the amount of light they get?

[shirlton]

We have grown them under both fleece and enviromesh. Enviromesh lets the rain and light through more than the fleece but if you are pushed the fleece will do the job.