Lookout for Leek Moth
Amy Ivy, Vegetable Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
![early leek moth early leek moth](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/3fcc07f820980c573f9738a7a7124b64.jpeg)
leaves near the emerging scape to find the damage
and young caterpillars
![map map](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/f545d9df1ed2afa0908541cf35772ed3.jpeg)
Leek moth is a pest of all allium crops: onions, garlic, leeks, shallots and chives. It is widespread through the southern parts of Ontario and Quebec in Canada, northern NY and in recent years, most of Vermont (see map).
Leek moth overwinters as an adult and begins flying in mid-April. This year the first adults were caught in Essex on April 21, in spite of very cold weather the week prior. The adults seek out alliums on which to lay eggs; emerging garlic and onion seedlings are known to be popular sites. Overwintering onions and emerging chives could be likely hosts for these first egg laying efforts as well. Larvae should be hatching in a couple of weeks.
Be cautious when buying and selling onion transplants between growers in the infested areas. We have seen leek moth appear in new locations when infested plants were brought in from other farms. It is not known in the southern US so seedlings from there should not be a concern for leek moth but caution is advised when buying any northern grown seedlings.
Leek moth larvae can do considerable damage to garlic scapes and this is a good first place to look for them when scouting. Look inside folded leaves near the developing scapes as well. There are 2ee labels for Entrust (organic), Radiant, Lannate and Warrior II w/Zeon. Controlling this first emergence of larvae can help protect onions from the second generation of leek moth which is more difficult to control since the larvae are more protected because they feed inside the hollow onion leaves.
![leek2 leek2](https://rvpadmin.cce.cornell.edu/images/submission/5fb0397d01579dde105e3295859743c5.jpeg)
![more crops](images/more_crops_left_sm.gif)
![more crops](images/more_crops_right_sm,.gif)
Upcoming Events
ENY Orchard Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting
August 15, 2024 : ENY Orchard Soil Health and Beneficial Fungi Meeting
Peru, NY
Join the members of CCE ENYCHP and the Cornell Soil Health Program for a field meeting on the basics of soil health, the potential benefits of mycorrhizal fungi, and an update on the current project status of our SARE grant on orchard mycorrhizal products.
This meeting is intended for farmworkers, young and beginning orchardists, and experienced orchard managers wanting to learn about the basics of soil health and mycorrhizal fungi within the orchard.
North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting
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August 19, 2024 : North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting
Plattsburgh, NY
North Point Community Farm Twilight Meeting
Monday, August 19th 4-7 pm (rain or shine)
2172 Military Turnpike, Plattsburgh, NY 12901
$10 per farm
Join us for a tour of North Point Community Farm, a diversified vegetable, berry, and flower operation in the North Country. Farmers Marisa and Mike will give us an overview of their decision-making as they expand their business, increasing their high tunnel production, investing in new tillage equipment, and transforming an old dairy barn into an efficient wash-pack shed with food safety in mind. We'll end the evening with local food refreshments and an opportunity to network with growers from NY and VT.
DEC credits: 1.5 credits in categories 1A, 10, 23
Late Summer Orchard Meeting
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August 21, 2024
Fonda, NY
Join us for our last get together of the summer before we're in the thick of harvest. At this meeting, we will tour Sand Flats Orchard with manager Mitch Hoffman, and we will then discuss late season pest management tasks with our experts from the HVRL and Cornell AgriTech.
DEC Credits: 1.5 credits in categories 1A, 10, and 22.