Developing new techniques to integrate in the IPM strategy of the cabbage root fly Delia radicum L.

S. Fleerakkers, R. Van den Eynde, S. Darwich, F. Temmerman, E. Dendauw, A. Tack, A. De Roissart, B. Vanthournout, J. Moens
Cabbage root fly (Delia radicum L.) can cause high yield losses in Brassica crops, and current control relies mainly on insecticides. The efficacy of three different methods against cabbage root fly as alternative control strategies was assessed: 1) intercropping with flower strips constituted of buckwheat, cornflower or dill increased the abundance of above ground natural enemies, but did not increase the abundance of soil-dwelling predators or improve egg predation; 2) the first test with a pneumatic control device dislocating cabbage root fly eggs from the cauliflower stem showed similar control as a standard insecticide drench treatment; 3) yellow and green McPhail traps in combination with a strong attractant showed, compared to other tested trap types, the highest catch rate and the highest selectivity and are promising trap types for mass trapping of cabbage root fly.
Fleerakkers, S., Van den Eynde, R., Darwich, S., Temmerman, F., Dendauw, E., Tack, A., De Roissart, A., Vanthournout, B. and Moens, J. (2025). Developing new techniques to integrate in the IPM strategy of the cabbage root fly Delia radicum L.. Acta Hortic. 1416, 337-344
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.44
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2025.1416.44
natural enemies, intercropping, egg predation, pneumatic insect control, trap type, mass trapping
English

Acta Horticulturae