New Insect Warnings

May 27, 2005:  There have been few reports of potato seeds affected by insect damage in the Twin Falls area.  Insect larvae were isolated from those seed pieces and seedcorn maggots (Delia platura) were found damaging the potato seeds.  The adults are flies about 5 mm. long, gray and have black legs.  The larvae (maggots) of these flies burrow into and feed in the sprouting seeds and seedlings of potatoes and other plants such as beans, corn, cereals, beets, radishes and peas.  We do know that the damage of this insect is most prevalent in soil with abundant organic matter and in cool, wet springs like this one.  Unfortunately, there are no rescue treatments for this insect.

Adults are attracted by the organic matter and lay the eggs anywhere in the soil.  Larvae enter healthy seed to feed on them and produce the damage.  Seed do not need to be rotten to be affected by this insect.  There should be no concern for the developing tubers this growing season and at harvest.