Thursday 10 September 2009

OH NO ! the dreaded Leek Moth Caterpillar

Well I am sorry to have to report that we on our allotment have the dreaded Caterpillar from the Leek Moth and all our leeks are being devoured by these little monster. Whats worse is that nothing can be done about it , but if the leeks are big enough ( mine are not) the white bulbous part could be saved. The little blighters eat their way down the green stems and make them into slush apparently. My lottie neighbour Jean noticed it first, then we all had a look at our own leeks and sadly most of us have them. Only the biggest strongest leeks are able to shrug the effects off, mine are all still tiny as they only went in after the potatoes were dug up.

Here is a link (below) to a good fact sheet on the little devils, and I hope none of you get them on your plot's as they sound hard to be rid of. I was so looking forward to more Leek & Potato soup, ah well there's always some in 'Tesco's' (leeks that is)





I couldn't have a post without some photo's, so here are a couple of very pretty ones that I took outside a florist shop when we were in London.





11 comments:

allot of veg said...

You are the second person I have read blogging about this - after the invasion of the caterpillars on the brassicas I thought I was in the clear. Now I shall have to fret until the weekend as I'm unlikely to get to the plot before then.

Beautiful roses, I have a David Austin rose that is similar in my garden. I love old fashioned roses.

Jo said...

Yikes! I didn't know about the Leek Moth. I'll be inspecting my leeks on my next visit to the plot.
The recipe in your previous post sounds delicious. Might give it a go.
Lovely pictures by the way.

Kella said...

I have heard from a member on the forum A4A that they had success using the fine mesh netting enviromesh to dodge leek moth attack this year after an entire alliums crop failure last year.

They use it on all their alliums and were fastidious in keeping it covered, any weeding that needed doing was done early in the morning I think about 08.00 am and was done speedily to replace the covers as quick as they could (I suppose planting through a weed suppressant fabric/ mulch would reduce the need to weed at all).

This link has details on their flying patterns and mating times, you might find it useful: http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/Type/acrolepi.htm

Sorry to hear your crop will be ruined but as you said there is also Tesco's.

GYPSYWOMAN said...

so sorry to hear of your leeks' invaders! best wishes on that!

what absolutely breathtaking flower images - the richness of the pinks is just fabulous - beautiful roses - love love the photos - thanks so much for sharing -

Anna said...

Oh no :( This is one pest I have not heard of - yet another to look out for :)

Prospero said...

Oh, no Maureen. Sounds like a nightmare.

Anonymous said...

lovely pretty pink flowers....beautiful...caterpillars are one I dread the most!

Kella said...

Maureen, I have just left you an award on my blog.

http://kellasvegeplotandothermusings.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-first-blog-award-ten-things-i-love.html

Maureen said...

Thank you everyone for the visit and comments and my apologies for not answering independently to each of you as I would usually do.
...............
Kella thank you very much for the award I have managed to save it to put on my blog, which I will do as soon as I am less busy.
.................
ALLOT OF VEG, JO, KELLA, GYPSYWOMAN, ANNA, PROSPERO, FLYING STARS, I am going to buy some 'Enviromesh' I have been toying with the idea since last year as it's very expensive, but last for many years. But now this Leek moth thing has made the decision for me.

Kella said...

Maureen glad you were able to save the award picture, I look foward to reading the related future post.

And the pleasure was all mine :)

Valerie said...

Beautiful looking tulips.
On the subject of caterpillars, I have to admit I love 'em - especially the big furry ones. I don't mind if they eat stuff on my allotment.

Mind you, I'm not so forgiving of the Evil Slugs. Urgh!!