Carrot pests

Willow-carrot aphid (Cavariella aegopodii)
  • Willow-carrot aphid is the main aphid pest of carrot crops.
  • Direct feeding damage reduces plant vigour and yield.
  • Feeding may also transmit Parsnip Yellow Fleck Virus and Carrot Mottle Virus – causing severe damage and stunted roots.
  • Adult Willow-carrot aphid migrate into crops during May.
  • Early and mid-season crops are most susceptible to attack.

Monitor aphid populations and migration timing of winged adult aphids via the Rothamsted Insect Survey web site.
Apply APHOX when aphids are first identified in the crop. The pre-harvest interval (PHI) is 3 days. Alternatively, DOVETAIL may be used, with 2 applications at 1.5 l/ha permitted, with a PHI of 14 days.
APHOX
DOVETAIL
Carrot fly (Psila rosae)
  • Carrot fly is the most damaging pest of carrot crops.
  • Attacks cause stunting of young plants and feeding damage.
  • The value of affected crops is severely reduced, and may be unmarketable.
  • Carrot fly usually completes 2 generations per year.
  • Additional treatments may be required where 3 generations occur due to increasing conducive weather.

Make the first application of HALLMARK ZEON one week before forecasts of egg laying by adult flies. Repeat at 12-14 day intervals until risk has passed. Maintain regular applications to minimise egg-laying.
HDC issue regular in-season warnings of Carrot fly populations.
HALLMARK ZEON
Cutworm (Agrotis segetum)
  • Cutworm is the name given to the subterranean caterpillar life-stage of moths, primarily Turnip moth.
  • After feeding on foliage, caterpillars moult and fall to the ground, burrowing into the soil and feeding on carrot roots.
  • Cutworms also nibble off shoots causing plant die back.
  • Attacks are favoured by hot dry conditions.

Treatment must be targeted to control caterpillars on the foliage, before their first moult. Apply HALLMARK ZEON or DOVETAIL at egg hatch.
A second application 10-14 days later may be required. ADAS provides pest warnings of likely seasonal risk. Both HALLMARK ZEON and DOVETAIL can be used for Cutworm in parsnips.
HALLMARK ZEON
DOVETAIL

Carrot crop pest attack timings

TOP TIPS for Carrot pest control

  • Inspect crops regularly during periods of high risk.
  • Unseasonable weather can allow early or prolonged pest attacks.
  • For early season carrot crop applications, twin cap bayonets fitted with two 02 or 03 nozzles produce an angled spray with fine droplets for best leaf coverage.
  • At full canopy, a switch to flat fan nozzles applying 400 l/ha water volume with a medium spray quality will achieve better spray penetration to target insect pests.
  • The Syngenta Vegetable Nozzle has proven highly effective for carrot crop applications at full canopy.
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