Bulb Pests

[Paul T]

Howdy All,

I'm posting this here as it is regarding Amaryllis grubs....... I think I have just found them for the first time here in Canberra.  A Crinum I was repotting had no growth, but the bulb seemed firm, until I knocked it out and found the bottom squishy and the basal plate rotted out.  I cut the bulb in half and found amongst the black muck 3 grubs about 1cm long, maybe a bit less.  Do I start getting really paranoid, or just hope that this is an oddity rather than the first sign of invasion?  I'll ask about this on the Australian Bulb Association list as well, to hear a local perspective too.

There is a lot mixed in with this thread, as well as other postings in other places in the past..... is it possible to copy them together into a thread to be able to have information on them together?

Thanks in anticipation (and a healthy helping of paranoia)

[Maggi Young]

There is a lot mixed in with this thread, as well as other postings in other places in the past..... is it possible to copy them together into a thread to be able to have information on them together?

Paul, I'll have a go when time permits. 

Done : Monday 15.40pm M
Will look to see if other bits and bobs could be moved here too.........

[Maggi Young]

I will not move all other posts, but make some links here:
See this : Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum > Cultivation > Cultivation Problems  > Narcissus bulb fly
http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=204.msg4228;topicseen#msg4228

A search for "Narcissus fly", using the SEARCH button  (third from the left at top of each forum page) will bring up a goodly number of references...too many to post here.... lots in Galanthus threads etc!

[Lvandelft]

That's great work, Maggi ! You know, I too was afraid our beautiful Narcissus would get totally snow-covered by these 'White Fever' people     
Thanks a lot, you earned an extra bar...!
Luit

[Paddy Tobin]

On the topic of killing pests using shotguns - this is not as far-fetched as some might think.

I recall reading an old gardening book some years back. The title ran somewhat along the lines of 'Your Garden Week by Week' and in the fruit and vegetable section it gave a method of dealing with gooseberry sawfly, a perfect nuisance on gooseberry bushes as anyone who grows them will know.

The suggestion went as follows: spread a generous sprinkling of ground lime under the gooseberry bushes; stand at the end of the line of gooseberry bushes and discharge both barrels of the shotgun, aiming just above the bushes; this will cause the sawflies to fall to the ground, onto the ground lime and death follows quickly.

Although it may sound extreme; it also sounds perfectly feasable so there might be something in it for treating narcissus fly!

Paddy

[David Shaw]

Once upon a time, many years ago, we used to live near Tarves in Aberdeenshire and had an excentric neighbour known as 'The Laird'. One year we had a such seriously bad infestation of Cabbage White butterfly caterpillars that he completely lost his cool and blasted them all with his shotgun! It did not do much for the cabbages but at least it allowed him to release his anger.

[Paul T]

Maggi,

Thanks!  I hadn't meant for you to actually move things, but rather to copy bits and pieces into a thread.  I know that some of them are intermingled with other threads (I seem to recall pictures of the larvae somewhere too), so I thought that it might have been possible to make a copy of things that were already in another thread, leaving them where they were but making a copy in here.  I very much appreciate what you have pulled out into here though, as it does bring all that together. 

[Maggi Young]

Yes, Paul, copy pix  ofthe fly and grub would be useful and I will do that soon.

You will now find pix earlier in this thread, since I merged the topic from Galanthus... bulb fly, when are they active and Mark had reposted some of his pix of grubs etc there.
M

[Paul T]

Maggi,

Sorry, wasn't intending to make work for you.  Just seemed like a good idea to have them all together.

[Maggi Young]

No problem, Paul, just having a busy day!!

[Paul T]

Thanks Maggi.

Checking back to Mark's pictures, mine may be Narcissus Fly rather than Amaryllis grub.  I had thought they were the same thing but on the ABA (Aus Bulb Assoc.) I was informed that I could have Narcissus Fly infestation rather than Amaryllis grub.  So how do I tell the difference, and how widely do they eat (given that mine was in a Crinum, not a Narcissus)?

[Maggi Young]

Lots of stuff both in old and new Forum... here are a few handy links:

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=623.msg15022;topicseen#msg15022
mentions of Vine weevil and Nar fly.

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=474.180 Lilly beetle Liliocerus lillii page 13

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=474.180 page 14 nar fly eggs, pic

http://www.srgc.org.uk/smf/index.php?topic=1188.0

http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/19423.html Old forum pagesFFNow Gal.2005, with nar fly

http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/1078/35058.html Old forum. Wildlife, pix of goodies and baddies! July 06

Narfly pages old forum May 2005
http://www.srgc.org.uk/discus/messages/283/12523.html
Enjoy!

[Maggi Young]

And some other pix, collated for your convenience......
First, Cliff Booker's pic of  Lily Beetle Liliocerus lilii, just to vary the nasties!
 Now, assorted Narcissus fly pix, and the photographer...
John Forrest nar.fly1
John Forrest J nar.fly 2
 Mark Smyth grubs
 Mark Smyth narcissus  fly adult
 Mark Smyth telltale holes in bulbs
 Mark Smyth narflygrub in bulb1
 Mark Smyth  NarFly eggs

[mark smyth]

Last year the season in my garden was prolonged due to the rain. I had adults flying in July. I mentioned before that they emerge when leaves are showing no sign of dying back. Those who say you dont have them I suggest on a warm/hot day sitting in the garden near your bulbs and watch for what look like blue bottles/blow flies flying low and fast close to the ground often in wide circles. If you have hardy Geraniums and other early flowering plants check for the adults drinking/eating. You will not mistake them for bumble bees that will be flying then also.

[Maggi Young]

Martin has told us the narcissus fly make a distinct whining sound as they fly... another tip to listen for!