leeks decimated by mysterious czechoslovakian beetles!

[bohemiabones]

help - for past two seasons all me leeks have been infected by crispy small browny-black beetles, smaller than match heads, that make their home throughout the stems. here in the czech republic no one seems to know what they are and i cant identify them from my english veg books. i just dont know with what and when to spray them (even though i largely manage without pesticides, i am prepared to make an exception and )with 150 seedling awaiting planting out, i cant face another disaster...and i am not even welsh.

[bohemiabones]

[manicscousers]

hiya, bohemiabones, welcome to the site, never heard of them, maybe an expert will come along soon, hope your leeks get sorted  ;D

[cambourne7]

have you got a photo?

[betula]

Welcome to A4A :)

[cambourne7]

Welcome to A4A :)

woops yes i should have said welcome as well :)

[grawrc]

Welcome to A4A. It might be an idea to ask someone local. I've never heard of what you are describing either.

[djbrenton]

The only pests I can think of are leaf miner and leek moth but neither match your description.

You could companion plant with pyrethrum or use a spray such as Nelson's or PreVent when they appear.

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

yes, are you sure they're beetles and not something else?
Course Czechoslovakia was very famous for it's mysterious beetles  ;D

[Robert_Brenchley]

What do they do to the leeks? Have you seen any sign of the larvae?

[calendula]

 could be flea beetles which like leeks, well they like anything - perhaps check them out on a search engine

[PurpleHeather]

There is a link here with pictures
any help
http://www.massnrc.org/pests/pestFAQsheets/leekmoth.html

[bohemiabones]

many thanks to everyone for the advice and welcomes...will no doubt being making good use of the forum while trying to maintain my little corner of england here in the bohemian countryside!

didnt find larvae or photograph them last year but will do this summer - in case i made a new discovery! - but dont look like leek moths. they dont tunnel much and appear dead between the inner leaves. will treat half with a general pesticide this year, pay more attention to what they are doing and get specimens to really baffle everyone!

[tonybloke]

take a pair of scissors to the leeks! cut off (and bury in compost heap) any affected growth, down to ground level if neccesary, The plants will recover O.K. and by removal and burial re-infestation should not occur.
rgds, Tony. p.s. welcome to the site. ;)

[bohemiabones]

tonybloke - thanks...sounds severe, hope you are not pulling my leek! going to try that anyway.

[tonybloke]

Not Pulling your leek!  ;D ;D ;D