Pest insects in carrot and Apiaceous crops: IPM strategy

Read about integrated pest management strategies and resistance management for pests of carrot and Apiaceous crops. 

Particularly in May and June, there are periods when two or more pests may be present in a crop. 

As part of a whole-crop IPM strategy, the cultural methods described above for individual pest species should be used, wherever possible, to reduce the overall level of infestation.  For both carrot fly and transmission of virus, it is likely that crop rotation and particularly spatial separation of new crops from previous sources of infestation will reduce pest and virus damage.  

Some insecticides are effective against more than one pest species and so careful selection of treatments based on the life cycles of all potential pests is recommended. 

The use of net covers may be beneficial for controlling all pest species if used at the right time and with a suitable mesh size. 

All pest species have natural enemies that regulate their numbers to some extent. Research has shown that predators such as ladybirds and parasitoid wasps can be very effectively reduce aphid infestations on carrot in some years.  As yet, it is not known what impact this may have on the transmission of virus. If using insecticides, where feasible selective pesticides and/or methods of application should be used to protect beneficial species. 

Repeated use of one insecticide group can select for insecticide resistance in the local pest population. It is, therefore, good practice to use different modes of action in rotation, where possible.  

For more information on resistance management, visit our pages on The Insecticide Resistance Action Group. 

If you would like to order a hard copy of the Carrot & Parsnip Crop Walkers' Guide, please contact publications@ahdb.org.uk or call 0247 799 0069.

Content for this web page was originally authored by Rosemary Collier, University of Warwick.