Cleanliness and order in the house is not a guarantee that one day you will not show up with fruit flies. These so-called onion or fruit flies are annoying and annoying.
I know what I'm talking about - I got rid of them more than once, because they can appear from anything, and we women have to fight them. I had to read special literature to understand where these flies come from. At the same time, I learned how to store onions in an apartment, and I also learned many other wisdom.
Description and life cycle of the onion fly
The insect looks like a housefly, only smaller in size. Therefore, it is so difficult to identify a tiny midge and to prevent the consequences of its sabotage in time. The female reaches a length of 6-8 mm and has a light gray color.
At the beginning of the season, the onion gnat lays its eggs in the soil between the beds or on the bulb head protruding above the surface. The insect can lay up to 15 eggs at a time. After 3 days, white larvae hatch, up to 10 mm long. They gnaw their way into the onion head and eat it. After half a month, the parasites leave the spoiled fruit and go deep into the soil to a depth of 10-15 cm.
After two weeks, they pupate and young flies appear, ready to lay larvae again. This process can last throughout the summer. Usually the insect gives the first generation in June, the second in early August. In warm regions, the fly can give birth to up to three generations per season. In the South of the country, the harm from the insect is much greater, since there are the most favorable conditions for its existence and development.
Note! In addition to onions, flies can also harm garlic, chives, and leeks. Spoiled vegetables are no longer suitable for cooking and must be disposed of.
It is necessary to fight the onion fly, otherwise several generations of the pest can ruin the entire seasonal harvest. Moreover, it is necessary to start the fight immediately, after detecting the first signs of the appearance of an insect on the site.
Where do domestic midges come from and how to get rid of them
Small black flies, which annoy the hostesses so much, are extraordinary insects. The unique ability of these malignant flying creatures to appear as if from nowhere gives them a kind of mystical halo. However, the secret of the emergence of swarms of midges in hermetically sealed apartments has nothing to do with magic. Drosophila flies, of course, do not have the phenomenal gift of seeping through walls. In fact, midges get into tightly battered rooms along with food brought from outside, and the larvae and eggs of fruit flies can hide not only in vegetables and fruits, but also in mushrooms, cereals and garden flowers.
Each fly does not live long. Having appeared in the world at dawn, in the evening of the same day, she dies, but if the apartment has a food base for her, namely, a supply of spoiled vegetables and fruits, the wine fly manages to lay a huge number of eggs on them per day. Thus, the number of midges begins to increase exponentially, however, in fairness, it should be noted that in winter Drosophila reproduce not so actively, but if you do not fight them, even in cold weather they can fill the whole house in a few days.
In addition to rotten fruits, midges love indoor flowers, or rather, the wet soil in which they grow.In addition, the reproduction of midges that have entered the house is facilitated by stagnant water in the aquarium, dampness reigning in sanitary facilities, dirt in the cages of pets, leaking sewer pipes, unwashed dishes for several days and garbage forgotten in the kitchen.
Therefore, if fruit or flower flies are in your home, before you take on the poison of intruders, try to first eliminate their "tavern". To do this, first of all, remove all food from the table and wash the dirty dishes, then inspect the refrigerator and revise the kitchen cabinets. Immediately take out rotten fruits and moldy cereals found there in the trash, along the way, take with you the garbage lying in the bucket.
When you finish tidying up the kitchen, ventilate the apartment to eliminate dampness, clean the aquarium, loosen the soil in the flowerpots, and drain the water from their trays.
At the end of the cleaning, vacuum the floors throughout the house and at the same time check if there is an apple core lying around in any secluded place.
Habitat and signs of appearance
The pest lives wherever onion cultivation is common: in Russia, Asia, Europe and North America. The fly spends the cold season in the ground in the form of pupae. The fly has a lifespan of 18 months. Larvae are difficult to see due to their small size.
Bulb infested with larvae
You can track the appearance of an insect by observing the condition of the onion:
- onion feathers begin to bend to the ground, breaking off at the base, lose their structure;
- planting slows down in development;
- feathers become yellowish, and their tips turn yellow;
- the plant begins to emit an unpleasant odor;
- the bulb itself becomes soft and rots.
What is the danger of the pest
Fighting the onion fly is not easy, because it is not the insect itself that causes damage to the plants, but the larvae hatched from the eggs. They are difficult to find, as they live in the bulb and eat it from the inside.
Note! The parasite lays eggs in groups, and the number of larvae in one head can reach 100 pieces.
Onion fly larvae
The insect chooses a place to lay eggs near the plants so that the larvae can get to food faster. It is quite difficult to notice the eggs, and it is practically impossible to get rid of the larvae that have appeared.
Onion gnats - what kind of insects?
Midges are small flying insects with two wings that gladly settle in human dwellings and feed on plant food. In fact, the onion gnat uses not only onions, but also settles on other fruits, berries, vegetables that are not properly stored in the apartment. There are several species of midges that live on plant products, and most often these are fruit flies (fruit midges) and sciriad soil midges.
Do not think that, apart from aesthetic harm, such small insects do not interfere with a person in any way. Even small midges are carriers of diseases. In people prone to allergies, their bites can cause severe skin reactions and swelling. On food, these insects lay their eggs, larvae emerge from them and immediately begin to feed intensively. Midges stain furniture, walls, and can even fly into a person's mouth and nose.
Here are the main signs of midges that most often settle at home:
- Size - 1-3 mm
- Oval body
- Slow flight, not like a normal fly
- Six legs, two wings
- Yellowish, brown, black calf color
Control methods
There are different ways to deal with onion flies. The use of chemicals is undeniably quick-acting, but there is a possibility that pesticides will build up in the plant, making it unusable. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to deal with onion midges with folk remedies. They do not harm plantings and give tangible results.
How to get rid of gnats on onions in a greenhouse and open field?
About the pest and methods of struggle
In order not to fight the larvae, but to prevent the appearance of pests on the onion, it is necessary to perform preventive manipulations on the site.
Use of chemicals
Some gardeners use industrial pest control products that contain chemicals, even though they are not environmentally friendly. There are a number of drugs that are easy to use. Their toxic effect on crops is minimal. However, excessive use of these solutions can lead to the death of beneficial insects.
The drugs are divided into groups according to the method of exposure:
- pyrethroids;
- neonicotinoids;
- organophosphorus compounds.
Onion beds are sprayed with aqueous solutions of these substances. Before use, you must carefully read the instructions for onion fly preparations and observe safety measures.
Kerosene, naphthalene, ammonia and potassium permanganate are quite mild in their effect on the plant, but at the same time giving a positive effect in the fight against the pest.
- The acrid, pronounced smell of kerosene will not allow the parasite to approach the landings. Mix half a bucket of sand with 200 ml of the chemical and sprinkle it between the beds twice a month. The smell that repels insects is not transmitted to the plants, so you should not worry about the quality of the crop. It is difficult to get rid of the strong aroma, therefore, during processing, it is necessary to avoid contact of the substance on open areas of the skin, use gloves. Tar and turpentine produce the same effect. Using these preparations 3 times per season will help in the fight against insects.
- Using naphthalene has a similar effect. The bright smell scares away insects, without affecting in any way onion plantings. The drug is mainly used to combat home moths, but it will also have a positive effect in the garden. The powder is mixed with sand and planting with onions is processed once a week. It is worth doing these manipulations in the spring, when the fly lays eggs.
- Ammonia is a cheap and effective method of pest control. Once a week with a solution of alcohol and water, it is necessary to water onions already infected with larvae. For prevention, it is enough to process it once every two weeks. When working with the drug, it is necessary to put on a wet mask on the face, as it contains poisonous vapors.
- At the beginning of the season, after planting work, treating the site with a strong solution of potassium permanganate will prevent the appearance of the parasite. Re-treatment after two weeks will strengthen the result.
A solution of potassium permanganate, salt and ammonia
The most popular among Russian gardeners were the preparations "Dachnik", "Mukhoed", "Bazudin", "Fitoverm". They are easy to find on the shelves of specialty stores at an affordable price.
Folk remedies
Gardeners do not neglect the use of folk insect repellents. They are more economical and do not cause the same environmental damage as chemical ones.
These include:
- The use of anthelmintic drugs. Dissolve the tablets in water and plants can be treated without harming them;
- Digging the soil at the end of the season. Thus, the larvae will rise to the surface of the earth and they will not have a chance to spend the winter in the soil;
- Processing onions with a solution of laundry soap in water;
- Infected plants must be isolated from the site and heat treated.
Digging the soil
Preventive measures
It is necessary to carry out a number of preventive actions in order to prevent the appearance of onion flies in the garden. It is easier to prevent plant contamination than to deal with the consequences.
It should be noted that preventive measures are preventive and are not always effective in the fight against the parasite. Several measures must be combined to achieve the best result.
Compliance with crop rotation
After harvesting and closing the season, it is necessary to plant onion plantings on the same bed no earlier than 3 years later. Alternation is necessary due to the fact that larvae and eggs hibernate in the ground, and even if healthy material is planted in spring, infection can occur from the soil. In the intervals between onion plantings, it is recommended to sow the beds with cabbage or cucumbers.
Thermal disinfection of bulbs
Even if you take care of the cleanliness of the land using preventive, folk or chemical methods, there is a chance that the disease will enter the soil along with the planting material. Larvae and eggs can be hidden in the bulb and are difficult to see visually. After the material enters the soil, the parasites begin to grow and develop due to the favorable conditions created for them. Therefore, the onion must be placed in hot water for a few minutes before planting.
How to prevent onion flies before sowing?
Experts recommend adding potassium permanganate as well for better cleansing. This will kill the embryos without giving them a chance to develop and will save the bow.
Mulching
Peat, as a means of soil cultivation in the fight against flies, has received little popularity in use, because it can not be found in all regions of the country. The insect does not tolerate its smell and avoids laying eggs on mulch.
It also makes sense to mulch the area immediately after the first shoots of pine needles appear. The onion fly is afraid of its scent. Moreover, the effect is produced not only by fresh needles, but also by pine opal.
Pine needles
A three-day infusion is watered with onion crops, the smell of which scares away insects and prevents them from harming the plant.
Fertilizer and brine use
Ash and tobacco dust are effective fertilizers that prevent the appearance of an insect on the site.
Ash remains with every gardener after burning branches and weeds. It can be collected and powdered wet soil every two weeks. For the best effect, you can drive the ash into the ground with a hoe. Sometimes ash is mixed with water and sprayed with this solution to the beds. This method brings double benefits: firstly, it gets rid of the pest, and secondly, it fertilizes the soil and contributes to the collection of a rich harvest.
Tobacco dust has a similar effect. The drug can be found in specialty shops selling garden products in powder form. It is an economical pest control option. She, like ash, must be treated with a plot twice a month, embedding the preparation in moist soil with a hoe. Sometimes the drug is used as a mixture with naphthalene or sand, or plants are watered with an aqueous solution. After processing, the area must be weeded out.
For the best effect, tobacco and ash can be applied simultaneously by mixing these components and sprinkling them on the area.
Often, for the simultaneous fertilization of the soil and fight against the fly, they use manure... Manure is applied in two ways. It can be spread out on the site, or the beds can be watered with a fertilizer solution with water.
Processing method saline fell in love with gardeners because of its economy and ease of use. A glass of salt is dissolved in a bucket of water and the plant is carefully watered at the root, trying to process the onion so as not to touch the above-ground part of the culture. It is important to observe the dosage of the drug, as its excessive concentration can adversely affect the development of the plant. 5 hours after treatment, it is necessary to water the plantings with clean water.
The salt method of processing the site has a significant drawback - it kills the living soil, making it unsuitable for the further cultivation of other crops. Therefore, use salt from onion flies in moderation and with caution.
Scaring away the pest
If other preventive measures have not been taken to prevent the appearance of a fly, you can try to drive it out of the site using odors that are unpleasant for the insect.
Wormwood bushes
When planting certain flowers or vegetables around the perimeter of an onion plantation, the aroma of which scares off a fly, it is possible to exclude the appearance of a pest in the garden. They are safe to use and do not harm the environment, so they can be used frequently.
- Wormwood grows in all parts of our country, is a weed and it is not difficult to get it. Wormwood bushes are laid out between the beds, and its cloying smell does not allow insects to approach. You can water the beds with wormwood infusion with water twice a month in order to prevent the appearance of onion flies.
- Marigolds will decorate your garden and scare off the pest. Most often, flowers are planted around the perimeter of onion crops. For the best effect, you can alternate 3 beds of onions and 1 bed of fragrant tagetes.
- The mixed planting of carrots and onions provides a mutually beneficial help of vegetables in the fight against insects. The onion fly cannot stand the smell of carrots, and the carrot fly is afraid of the smell of onions. There is one nuance to consider when using this method. 2 weeks before harvesting, it is necessary to stop watering the onions to dry the fruits and healthy completion of the culture. While carrots love moisture and frequent watering. A way out of the situation can be a group mixed landing, i.e. alternate carrots and onions for 3-4 beds. The group method is not inferior in its effectiveness to a simple alternation, helping to solve the issue with watering.
Means for treating plantings from onion flies, carrot flies and thrips
How flies enter the house
Living outside a person's home, onion flies are able to fly from the street, from the entrance, from the ventilation. But, often, everything is much simpler: we ourselves bring them into the house.
- Eggs or larvae live on the surface of fresh, dried and dried fruits and vegetables bought in the store (in the market). Under favorable conditions (violation of the integrity of the peel, rotting), flying individuals appear from them.
- We bring these parasites home on the soles of shoes, gloves, bicycle wheels and strollers when we store them in the hallway.
- Fruit fly larvae and eggs can also enter the soil for plants from the store or with soil for seedlings from your own garden.
- Paws, fur, feces, and food in pet bowls are excellent breeding grounds for the fly.
- If the onion is not stored properly, when its bottom rots or the husk deteriorates, these flying insects start up in the house. Clutches of eggs on the bulbs were laid in the garden in the summer.
Anyone who does not know the smell of rotting onions - they did not store them in sufficient quantities for the winter. When we buy an onion in a supermarket or a bazaar, we put it in a plastic bag, put it on the floor near the radiator and ... safely store it there.
There is no need to do this - the warmth and humidity of the closed bag will create a good microclimate for the decomposition of the product.
- The first unshakable rule for the successful storage of onions is their thorough drying after harvesting. Scatter the onions in one layer under a canopy, in a barn, on a terrace.
- Only healthy and intact heads are laid for the winter. You do not need to trim the bottom of the onion, only dry roots are trimmed or exfoliated. Otherwise, pathogenic microorganisms will penetrate through the "wounded" surface and create the likelihood of damage.
- Dry onions are stored at a room temperature of 17-22 degrees, but in the basement it is permissible to keep them at 1-5 degrees.
- Air humidity in the room during storage should not exceed 75-80%.
- In small quantities (when onions are bought in a store for a week), it is convenient to keep them in a bag in a special compartment of the refrigerator.
- Boxes with holes, special plaited braids - this is what you need to keep onions safe.
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It has been noticed that red onion varieties are more prone to rotting. This is due to the fact that red onions are almost always early ripening and not intended for storage, and they are almost always sweeter than usual. Maybe that's why flies appear in such a bow most often.
Do not give in to the assurances of sellers in the market that there are special varieties of onions that do not rot. You may be advised to buy a bow that does not appear flies. Only all this is pure fantasy. The main thing is to properly dry and store the onion.
