The thick, edible roots of carrot plants make such sweet, crunchy vegetables. Harvest the roots by late-August, before the second generation of larvae emerges. The carrot root fly (Psila rosae), pictured below looking like butter wouldn't melt in it's mouth, is responsible for much grief amongst home gardeners and commercial growers alike.It is partial to dining on a number of vegetables in the Apiaceae, or carrot, family of plants. They say carrot fly are not strong fliers but can smell carrot foliage at half a mile and follow the scent which is why they say pick in the evenings. Unfortunately, when carrot pests attack the roots and leave the foliage, this tasty edible food is ruined. Due to the fact that the fly can only fly about two feet (61 cm) from the ground, covering the plants with a protective mesh or two-foot high barrier around them, or planting them in pots which are kept high on a table, may be effective. Rust fly maggots cause particular harm to the roots. I believe John Horsey introduced the pattern some while ago. Bury carrots below the soil so that the fly cannot lay its eggs. The carrot fly (Chamaepsila rosae) is a pest of gardens and farms, and mainly affects the crop of carrots, but can also attack parsnips, parsley and celery.It is a member of the family Psilidae (order Diptera). It has long been said that carrot fly can’t fly higher than 60cm so erecting fences of insect netting to this height around your rows of carrots stops them gaining access to the crops. It lays its eggs in the soil, right next to the carrots. Hi, can anyone show me any written formal instructions with materials to tie a claret carrot fly please. A useful link or a video youtube or the like will do as well. Timing the planting of carrots to miss the three active periods of the carrot fly larvae may also help. Make sure any carrots infected with larvae are removed and disposed of. Sow carrots after late-spring to avoid the first generation of carrot fly larvae. They tunnel and live in the root and high infestations can make an entire crop inedible. Even fine net curtains would do the trick I tried a barrier but the fly still got in and some one on our site last year got fly and they had a barrier 3 foot high. Carrot fly can detect the scent of carrots from a mile away; sow the seed thinly, as the process of thinning the seedlings releases the carrot… The fly is small, around 0.15 inches (4 mm) long with a dark body, a yellow head, and see-through yellow wings. It is also a good idea to plant when the fly is not active and avoid planting in April to June and August to September. It covers 60 sq metres. Sow thinly when you first sow carrot seed to avoid having to do too much thinning, and try not to disturb or handle the plants too much. Carrot fly also affects other vegetables in the parsley family, such as Parsnip, Celery, Dill, Coriander, Fennel and Celeriac; They are attracted to the smell of bruised foliage; The larvae that damage the roots can continue to feed through the autumn into winter, moving between plants; The adult carrot fly is approximately 9mm long. If we can avoid buying enviromesh and netting for cabbage whites it … One presumes that carrot fly will need protection until September so say £50 for the season. The carrot is the host plant for the little carrot fly and their larvae. Hi Allan, avoid growing carrots in the same place each year and rotate with another crop that is not a root crop. So erecting some sort of barrier two feet high round your carrots is the simplest way. Carrot fly only fly less than two feet above thr ground.