A Guide to Treat Destructive Cabbage Root Fly

For many vegetable gardeners, cabbage root fly is a highly destructive pest that can quickly decimate brassica crops like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, and more. The larvae of this small fly feed on plant roots, stunting growth and even killing young seedlings. Traditional chemical insecticides can be harmful to the environment. An organic alternative is applying the beneficial bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus. This article explores the ways as how to get rid of cabbage root fly

Understanding Cabbage Root Fly and Its Damage 

The cabbage root fly (Delia radicum) is a significant brassica pests across North America and Europe. The adult flies emerge in spring and lay eggs at the base of brassica plants. The eggs hatch into larvae that burrow into the soil and feed on the roots. This destroys the root system and cuts off the plant’s ability to take up water and nutrients. 

Above ground, symptoms include stunted growth, wilting, yellowing, and premature death of seedlings. Left unchecked, cabbage root fly can destroy an entire brassica crop. Controlling the larvae is key to protecting vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, radishes, and turnips.

Symptoms of Cabbage Root Fly

The Cabbage Root Fly (Delia radicum) mainly attacks crops that belong to the cabbages group including cabbages, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. Signs that a plant is infected include slower growth than other plants in the vicinity and wilting – most evidently during the warm seasons. Based on the symptoms presented by plants, infected foliage may have yellow or purpling leaves and an overall poor heath. In detail, close to the ground, the roots are usually seen to be in some sort of damage; maggots can be seen feeding on the roots. This results to the formation of tunnels in the root system the brings about decay as well as other pathogen infections. High populations of the vegetable garden pests can eventually lead to the death of the plant, and reduced yields.

Cabbage Root Fly Treatment

Control methods for Cabbage Root Fly include cultural, biological, and chemical approaches used in crop farming. Cultural management involves screens, fine insect mesh nets, and floating row covers to prevent adult flies from laying eggs. Other preventive measures include planting resistant cabbage varieties and treating the soil properly to lower infection chances. Biological control uses ground beetles or parasitic wasps that prey on fly larvae to manage Cabbage Root Fly. Beneficial nematodes can be applied to the soil, targeting root fly larvae directly. Chemical control, though least recommended, involves insecticides applied according to guidelines to protect beneficial insects and the environment. These methods form Integrated Pest Management (IPM), combining techniques to eliminate Cabbage Root Fly and conserve biological control.

Brevibacillus laterosporus as an Organic Pest Management Tool

It is a beneficial, spore-forming bacterium used as a biocontrol agent, plant growth promoter, and biofertilizer. Research shows it is effective against cabbage root fly control, when applied preventatively to brassica crops. B laterosporus colonizes plant roots, leaving less room for pest establishment. It also produces antibiotics that inhibit larval development. Being a natural soil microbe, Brevibacillus laterosporus causes no environmental side effects. It offers an organic pest control, sustainable way to protect brassicas from root fly damage.

Using B. laterosporus to Prevent Cabbage Root Fly Infestations

Apply B. laterosporus 2-3 weeks before transplanting or sowing direct-seed brassicas. This gives the bacteria time to adequately colonize the roots and establish populations that can outcompete and ward off newly hatching root fly larvae. Target applications to thoroughly coat the root zones of plants, using a root drench or soil drench. Granular formulations can be broadcast and watered in. Reapply every 14-21 days during the peak cabbage root fly activity periods of early spring through mid-summer and again in fall. Higher label rates may be needed for heavy existing infestations. Combining applications with physical barriers like floating row covers can exclude the adult flies and provide additional protection.

How B. laterosporus Works as an Organic Pesticide

Brevibacillus laterosporus confers several modes of action that make it an effective organic pesticide against cabbage root fly larvae:

• As a natural soil inhabitant, B. laterosporus competitively colonizes plant root surfaces and soil surrounding roots, leaving less space for root fly larvae to establish themselves and feed.
• It produces a variety of antibiotic compounds and secondary metabolites that are directly toxic to larvae when ingested. These include the lipopeptides laterosporulin, bacillomycin D, and fengycin. These disrupt cell membrane integrity in the larvae, leading to leakage of cell contents, paralysis of the gut, and eventual death.
• The antimicrobial peptides produced by B. laterosporus also alter the microbial communities around roots, creating a less favorable environment for cabbage root fly larvae.
• Certain compounds excreted by B. laterosporus trigger induced systemic resistance in the brassica plants, making them less susceptible to attack by pests like root fly.
• Ingestion of the spores and cells induces larval mortality through septicemia. The spores survive well in soil, providing lasting protection.
• By inhibiting larval feeding and development, B. laterosporus reduces cabbage root fly damage with subsequent generations of the root fly, providing longer term cabbage root fly control.

The combination of competitive exclusion, antibiosis, induced resistance, and larval mortality confer B. laterosporus with multiple modes of action against cabbage root fly as an organic biopesticide.

Advantages of B. laterosporus Over Chemical Insecticides

Unlike broad-spectrum synthetic insecticides that indiscriminately kill pests and beneficials alike, B. laterosporus offers many advantages:

– High target pest specificity, only affecting root fly larvae. 

– No toxicity or residues that harm people, animals, bees, or the environment.

– Compatible with integrated pest management programs and organic principles.

– Natural resistance avoids pesticide treadmill of resistance development seen in chemicals. 

– Lower risk of plant stress or phytotoxicity compared to chemical pesticides.

– Cost-effective and easy to apply using standard equipment.

Novobac Solutions for Sustainable Pest Control

Companies like Novobac are leading the way in providing growers and gardeners with effective, sustainable microbial-based solutions for controlling destructive pests and diseases.

Novobac specializes in manufacturing top-quality biopesticides harnessing beneficial microorganisms like bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. Their products contain strains selected and optimized specifically for pest management efficacy.

Unlike broad-spectrum chemical pesticides that carry risks of environmental contamination, toxicity to non-target organisms, and resistance development, Novobac’s biopesticides leverage the power of nature for safe plant protection.

Their microbiological insecticides, fungicides, and nematicides provide growers with biological options to replace more harmful conventional pesticides. Our biopesticides integrate seamlessly into integrated pest management and organic production systems.

With a commitment to innovation and sustainability, we continually develop new microbial solutions for major agricultural, horticultural, turf and ornamental pests. Their library of optimized strains provides tailored options for controlling different target pests across diverse environments and crops.

By harnessing beneficial microbes as natural pest inhibitors, Novobac empowers growers to implement responsible, ecological pest management programs and reduce reliance on toxic chemicals.

Conclusion

The cabbage root fly can quickly devastate brassica vegetable crops, but chemical insecticides pose environmental risks. Research shows the beneficial bacterium Brevibacillus laterosporus provides an effective organic option for preventing and managing cabbage root fly infestations when properly applied. By colonizing roots and producing natural pesticidal compounds, it reduces larval damage without toxicity – giving growers a sustainable way to get rid of cabbage root fly. Integrated with other methods into a cultural control program, B. laterosporus offers organic brassica producers a natural solution for how to get rid of cabbage root fly infestations and keep this pest under control.

References:

1. Javed, Khadija, et al. “Biocontrol Potential of PeBL2, a Novel Entomopathogenic Bacterium from Brevibacillus laterosporus A60, Induces Systemic Resistance against Rice Leaf Folder Cnaphalocrocis exigua (Butler) in Rice (Oryza sativa L.).” Plants 11.23 (2022): 3350.
2. Javed, Khadija, Yong Wang, and Humayun Javed. “Sublethal effects of Brevibacillus laterosporus an emerging novel entomopathogenic bacterium with potential role to trigger defense response in chili pepper Capsicum annuum L. against potato aphid Macrosiphum euphorbiae.” International Journal of Pest Management (2023): 1-15.