Seedcorn Maggot cucurbits, beans, corn Summary (2020) - 1 page
Seedcorn Maggot (Delia platura)
The Scenario - a grower notices that their direct-seeded pumpkins are not coming up well. The stand is spotty and the plants look weak. When the grower digs up the seed - the cause of the problem becomes obvious - Seedcorn Maggots.
Description - the Seedcorn maggot is the larva of a small (4 mm), light gray fly. The whitish, legless maggots are about 8 mm long and are similar in appearance to the Root Maggots (Delia radicum) which commonly attack the roots of crops like radish, cabbage and broccoli.
Damage - the Seedcorn maggot attacks germinating seeds of as range of vegetable crops, including cucurbits, beans and corn. Seeds attacked by the maggots usually fail to emerge. Any surviving seedlings are weak and commonly die soon after emergence.
