Cabbage Maggot
Delia radicum
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameCabbage Maggot
DescriptionCabbage maggots tunnel into the roots of broccoli and cabbage, causing plants to wilt and collapse. Identify yellowing leaves to protect your brassica crops from root destruction.
TypeInsect
FamilyAnthomyiidae
GenusDelia
TribeHydrophoriini
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderDiptera
SubfamilyAnthomyiinae
Features
- A major pest of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower). It is the larval stage of the cabbage fly (Delia radicum)
- Adult flies resemble small houseflies and lay tiny, white, bullet-shaped eggs in the soil near the base of the plant stem
- Larvae (maggots) are creamy-white, legless, and feed heavily on the roots, creating winding tunnels and channels
- Infected plants appear stunted and show signs of yellowing and wilting, especially during the hottest part of the day
- Severe root damage can cause the entire plant to collapse and die as it loses the ability to take up water and nutrients
- The feeding wounds provide easy entry points for secondary pathogens like bacterial soft rot and black leg
- Overwinters as pupae in the soil. Adults emerge in spring when soil temperatures reach 10°C (50°F)
- Patches of dying plants in a row are a common sign of a localized maggot infestation
- Prevent by using fine mesh row covers to exclude the flies. Avoid planting in fields with freshly applied un-composted manure
- Manage by rotating crops and tilling the soil in late fall to expose overwintering pupae to predators and freezing temperatures
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificDelia radicum
English (Alternate)Cabbage root fly
Hindiगोभी की सुंडी (Gobhi ki sundi)
Tamilமுட்டைக்கோஸ் புழு (Muttaikos puzhu)
Teluguక్యాబేజీ పురుగు (Cabbage purugu)
Malayalamക്യാബേജ് പുഴു (Kyābēj puzhu)
Kannadaಕೋಸು ಹುಳು (Kōsu huḷu)
Sanskritकम्बोक-कीट (Kamboka-kīṭa)
Bengaliবাঁধাকপির পোকা (Badhakopir poka)
Frenchmouche du chou
Russianкапустная муха (kapustnaya mukha)
Spanishmosca de la col
GermanKleine Kohlfliege
