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Joliet, IL

Hopefully the deep freeze in many regions prone to corn seed maggots will help reduce their numbers. But cool soil high with organic matrer is their favorite feeding grounds. Use search here for detailed ways to help prevent damage besides someone just saying to warm your soil up. There are preventative measures that can be taken to increase your odds of not having your exciting start of the year whipped out in one day after transplanting. Been there. Its a sucky way to start the season.

4/4/2014 2:18:14 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Had them take a plant out last year while still indoors. Used a little bit of garden soil as my medium without microwaving. Maggots took the plant out in a half day. Thanks for reminder.

4/15/2014 8:46:04 PM

Upa Creek, Mo

Transplanted outside today. We are at 80 so hopefully too warm for the maggots, gave a good drench of a contact today. I learned last year systemics like Merit don't work fast enough.

4/19/2014 1:37:07 PM

Joliet, IL

I was just asked how I treat my planting spots to prevent the CSM by a fellow grower who got hit hard last year here in a cold spring last year similar to this one. This is what I have had success doing for the past 3 years since getting wiped out.

I remove soil where planting and dust bottom of hole with diatomaceous earth, Bonide Eight pellets, and Bonide Systemic granular. Mix in to soil. Then add some soil back and repeat dusting of all 3 above and mix. Then again the last time until hole is filled back in. Then after transplanting I have 12" diameter poly pots with bottoms cut off and I slit down the side to make it easier to pull out and remove later. Put this collar around transplanted pot and push down at least 5 inches of penetration. The diatomacious earth and Eight will dehydrate and kill all bugs and corn seed maggots travel laterally in top 3 inches of soil. Those that migrate to the chemical scent of a sprout they smell from over 10' away will run into the buried collar and die with the insecticides.

4/30/2014 6:15:09 PM

Joliet, IL

Put collar around transplanted plant that should have read

4/30/2014 6:23:20 PM

Trumbull, CT 06611, USA

1. Put greenhouses up 2 weeks in advance of planting
2. Use soil heating cables
3. Keep greenhouses shut for the first 2 weeks to smoke them out
4. Merit the entire patch
5. Use collar around the transplant

5/1/2014 9:06:28 AM

Springfield, VT

The bugs are hard to get rid of a couple of items not mentioned about the flies
1. Attracted to rotting vegetation (tilled in green manure)
2. Attracted to damp organic soils not to dry or wet
3. In patch all season not just spring
4. Warm soil has an active fungus which kills many of them
5. One fly can lay 270 eggs

My way of combatting them this year
1. Cold frames up to warm soil to expedite life cycle
2. Contact pesticide(s) watered in the cold frame (triazicide & spinosad)
3. Keep the cold frame on the dry side
4. Yellow sticky trap to catch any missed by the above
5. Merit drench on the seedling plants in pot prior to planting

5/1/2014 10:26:11 AM

Joliet, IL

All great advice friends. With many getting late starts from whacky winter /early spring and soil is still a little cooler than you would like in hoophouses it may be worth the effort to be pro-active instead of the other option...which is hopefully you have backups. ..and if not find someone who does.....been there

5/1/2014 8:27:31 PM

Columbia, Kentucky

Great info! If you are new to growing or just have not fallen victim to the CSM better safe then sorry. I lost At least a full month to them last year. Wealth of knowledge here on here:)

5/9/2014 4:53:45 PM

    

How do I treat seed corn maggots I found in the soil near the base of my plants? If I use insecticide, I may kill the beneficial ground beetles craving the maggots for lunch. I am also noticing a high level of yellowing along vine, some in more mature leaves. I sprayed with seven and daconil more for the squash bugs and vine borers. I also removed damaged leaves and buried my main and secondary vines. At the present, I have a pollinated female on the 9th of July. Please help!! New growth looks good, but I am wondering if you guys recommend continuing with triazicide? Also, I was on the Bonide website today and I did not find Bonide Eight pellets, and Bonide Systemic granular, as mentioned. I have heard of this on Garden Sense, a radio show, hosted by Yaz, owner of Rozen's Garden Center. Has anyone ever tried Poncho ViVo? I found this on FMC Agricultural Solutions. Let me know - thanks!!

7/12/2014 3:08:48 PM