narcissus bulb fly

Laura & Dave toadlily@olywa.net
Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:48:30 PDT
While not having a great problem with narcissus bulb fly at the moment, 
it doesn't hurt to plan for a battle.  I've wondered if banking a small 
amount of diatomaceous earth around the stems/foliage would do in the 
migrating grubs and perhaps keep the fly from laying eggs in the first 
place.  As the foliage shrinks, the earth would fall into the cavity, 
protecting the now exposed parts.  The visual impact should not be too 
objectionable. I know that diatomaceous earth disperses into the soil 
fairly quickly, but it only has to last  a couple or three months.  
Also, I don't know if it would damage the plant material; it didn't seem 
to when tried as a slug deterrent  (not real successful, that).

Dave Brastow
Tumwater, Washington -USA-  (7A)


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