CARROT FLY 219 



as " rust/* from the peculiar reddish or rusty colour 

 to which the gnawed parts turn. It attacks all parts 

 of the Carrot root by gnawing galleries in the surface, 

 or into the substance of the root, but whilst the roots 

 are young the grub generally attacks the lower part. 

 Infested Carrots may be known by the outer leaves 

 turning yellow and withering, while the roots gradually 

 sicken and die from the injury to the fleshy part, the 

 growth of the root-fibres being also often completely 

 destroyed. In consequence of attack by Carrot Fly 

 larvae or grubs the crop is almost entirely lost in some 

 gardens. 



The attack usually begins early in summer when 

 the Carrots are from two to six inches high, the fly 

 depositing eggs on or by the root, and the larvae when 

 hatched eat their way into the fleshy part. When 

 full-fed the grubs turn to pupae in the earth, and the 

 fly comes out in three or four weeks in summer, but 

 in winter the pupae remain unchanged, and the fly does 

 not come from them till the following spring or 

 summer. 



Prevention. The cultural points to be attended to 

 are : i. Such preparation of the ground in autumn 

 or winter as will ensure favourable conditions for a 

 healthy vigorous growth from the first germination of 

 the seed. 2. Thinning at such a stage of growth as 

 after thinning may least expose the plants to the 

 attacks of the Carrot Fly, the operation of thinning 

 evidently attracting the fly and affording facilities for 

 the depositing of eggs on or near the Carrots owing to 



