Onion Maggot
Delia antiqua
Basic Details
Description
Taxonomy
Features
Translations
Basic Details
NameOnion Maggot
DescriptionOnion maggots tunnel into the roots and bulbs of onions, causing plants to wilt and rot. Identify yellowing leaves early to prevent your crop from turning 'flabby'.
TypeInsect
FamilyAnthomyiidae
GenusDelia
TribeHydrophoriini
Taxonomy & Features
PhylumArthropoda
SubphylumHexapoda
ClassInsecta
OrderDiptera
SubfamilyAnthomyiinae
Features
- The most serious insect pest of onions in temperate regions. It is the larval stage of the onion fly (Delia antiqua)
- Tiny, white, legless maggots hatch from eggs laid near the plant base and crawl into the soil to tunnel into the roots and basal plate
- Young plants are often killed outright as the maggots hollow out the small bulb, causing the plant to wilt, turn yellow, and die
- In older plants, the feeding creates large cavities in the bulb. This wounding introduces secondary pathogens like soft rot bacteria and fungi
- Infected onions become 'flabby', watery, and develop an unpleasant odor. They are unfit for harvest and will quickly rot if placed in storage
- Adult onion flies resemble small, slender houseflies (6 mm). They are most active in late spring and early summer when laying eggs
- They are particularly attracted to fields with decaying organic matter, such as unturned manure or previously rotted vegetable debris
- Presence is often identified by patches of stunted or dying plants in the field. When pulled, the plant usually breaks at the rotted stem
- Prevent by rotating onion crops frequently and avoid planting near fields with a history of maggot problems. Use floating row covers to exclude flies
- Control by applying insecticidal drenches at planting. Remove and destroy culled or rotted bulbs immediately to prevent further breeding
Names in Different Languages
Latin / ScientificDelia antiqua
English (Alternate)Onion fly maggot
Hindiप्याज की सुंडी (Pyaz ki sundi)
Tamilவெங்காய புழு (Vengaya puzhu)
Teluguఉల్లి పురుగు (Ulli purugu)
Malayalamഉള്ളി പുഴു (Uḷḷi puzhu)
Kannadaಈರುಳ್ಳಿ ಹುಳು (Īruḷḷi huḷu)
Sanskritपलाण्डु-कीट (Palāṇḍu-kīṭa)
Bengaliপেঁয়াজের পোকা (Peyajer poka)
Frenchmouche de l'oignon
Russianлуковая муха (lukovaya mukha)
Spanishmosca de la cebolla
GermanZwiebelfliege
