Cultural control of carrot fly

There are a number of ways to control carrot fly.

- Sow carrot seeds sparsely to avoid the need to thin out seedlings. Female carrot flies are attracted to the odour released when seedlings are removed. 

- Carrots grown from seed sown in late spring (usually after mid-May in the UK) will avoid the first generation of carrot fly.

- Protect carrot crops with insect-proof netting. Crop rotation is essential if using netting. Alternate carrots with a non-carrot crop. This way, trapped adult carrot flies emerging from overwintered pupae will have nothing to feed on.

- Select carrot cultivars that are more resistant to carroty fly including 'Fly Away', 'Maestro', 'Resistafly', and 'Sytan'.