Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues

From: "Wilbert Hetterscheid" <hetter at xs4all.nl> on 2004.07.25 at 10:21:39(11801) Julius, The maggots you describe in your Hymenocallis must be what we here in Holland call "Narcissis fly" (Merodon equestris, of the fly family Sirphidae), a very destructive creature. The fly deposits one or a few eggs close to the neck of the bulb. The young maggots find their way down into the bulb and eat it from inside out and you never saw it before they hatch or the bulb rots away. Bulbgrowers here who fear they may have infected bulbs, put these in warm water for a while (or even hot, ca. 60 C for a short while), which is supposed to kill the maggots. Other than that the only safe way is to have a small net over the developing plant or keep the plant out of the open air (in a greenhouse). There are areas in Holland where you simply cannot keep Amaryllidaceae out in the open. Of course, this thing has nothing to do with fungus gnats. Cheerio, Wilbert +More -----Oorspronkelijk bericht----- Van: aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu [mailto:aroid-l-owner@lists.ncsu.edu]Namens Julius Boos Verzonden: maandag 5 juli 2004 15:14 Aan: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu Onderwerp: Re: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >From: Neil Gordon >Reply-To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >To: aroid-l@lists.ncsu.edu >Subject: [aroid-l] Amorph Blues >Date: Sat, 3 Jul 2004 20:03:46 +0100 Dear All, Allow me to put in my two-cents worth and suggestions of these fly larvae affecting the Amorphophallus corms. I am going through a simular situation on my job (commercial landscaping installations) with a large number of native Hymenocallis lily plants. The plant goes into a decline when it should be thriving, and when you dig up a bulb you find some large larvae that look like a fly species (NOT the Lepidoptera larvae of moth sps. that sometimes affects these lily species) that have eaten the roots and some of the basal layers of the bulb and are living in cavaties thay have eaten into the underside of the bulb. I think that perhaps both 'yours' and 'my' larvae are too large to be the lavae of the small balck insects I know as fungus gnats, and will try to collect a few more w/ bulb and confine them in a large plastic container covered in saran wrap w/ some holes poked in it, some dry soil below the bulb that th! e larvae can pupate in, and see what comes out! We may be surprised, and I urge anyone who finds these larvae to do the same, makes treatment MUCH easier IF one knows ones enemy!! I used this method to identify what insect made the large galls on leaves of a bay tree, a beautiful yellow-and-black 'bee-fly' emerged, plus many tiny ichneumon wasps that were parasitizing other fly pupae! Good Growing! Julius >Ok, after recieving two Amorphs from Wilberts yearly distribution, >i've been eagerly awaiting a bud to appear. >Every couple of weeks, ive been gently brushing aside the soil to >see if anythings happening. >Now, the A. Declinatus was only a very tiny corm less than 1cm >across, and started to make a pointy little bud shape not long after >i recieved it, (maybe a couple of weeks) and then stopped. Ok, was >still firm, and a good colour - up until today that is, when i >decided to check again as all of my other Amorphs are now either >well into bud or nearly in full leaf. > >So i brushed the soil aside, found the corm, still same size >(obviously!) still with the tiny bud shape on top, but to my dismay, >was squishy when held. >So i broke it in half and what was inside? One of these little >buggers. >http://www.ng23.abelgratis.co.uk/bug/damn_bug.jpg >It was (past tense intended!) about 5mm long. > >Does anyone recognise what it may be? Is it contagious? Should I >spray the soil of my other amorphs with insecticide? > >Fortunately the A konkanensis i also recieved is now starting to >bud, but the Declinatus was, of the 2, the one I realy wanted. Isnt >that always the way. > >ANY help apreciated. Thanks in advance. > >Neil > >On the plus side, the Titanum seeds have started to gernimate! >

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