Tackling allium leafminer, an invasive pest of Allium crops, in the eastern US

Sunday, November 13, 2022

4:30 PM – 4:42 PM PT

Location: Vancouver Convention Centre, Meeting Room 306

Presenting Author(s)

Pin-Chu Lai

Postdoctoral associate
Cornell University
Geneva, New York

Co-Author(s)

Ramandeep Kaur Sandhi

Global R & D scientist
FMC Corporation
Newark, Delaware
EG

Ethan Grundberg

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Middlewoen, New York
TR

Teresa Rusinek

Cornell Cooperative Extension
Middletown, New York
BN

Brian Nault

Professor of Entomology
Cornell University
Geneva, New York

Originally from Poland, allium leafminer (ALM), Phytomyza gymnostoma, is an invasive pest that infests plants in the genus Allium. ALM was first documented in Pennsylvania, USA in 2015 and since has been reported from seven other states in the eastern US. In severe cases, ALM can cause total crop loss as larval mining destroys the lower portion of plants. ALM has one spring and one fall generation per year and tends to cause the most damage to scallions and leeks in the fall. Foliar applications of dinotefuran, cyantraniliprole, and spinetoram have provided the best efficacy and consistent levels of control against ALM, while spinosad was the only effective chemical option for organic growers. Under low to moderate ALM pressure, two insecticide applications provided sufficient control when applied 2 to 3 weeks after initial detection. Aside from insecticides, reflective mulch and insect exclusion net/row cover are effective cultural practices for ALM management. Ongoing and future research explores trap cropping and the efficacy of endophytes and/or entomopathogenic fungi for ALM management.