Community Education on Environment and Development

Common Plant Pests

Cabbage root maggot

Characteristics

These Pests and Diseases attack the underground parts of vegetable crops. Two common species attack cabbages and onions and related crops.

Adult maggots are dark gray flies that look like the common housefly. The maggots are small (usually less than 1/3 inch), white, and legless. Their head end is pointed and the rear is blunt.

Adult flies lay white eggs at the base of plants or in cracks in the soil. After hatching, maggots tunnel into plants to feed, then form brown pupae in roots or soil.

Remedies

Floating row cover

Hosts

Broccoli
Brussels sprouts
Cabbage
Cauliflower
Kale

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