Occurrence of leek moth in Nova Scotia.
Citation
Blatt, S, Peill, M and Gillis-Madden, R. 2019. Occurrence of leek moth in Nova Scotia. Journal of the Acadian Entomological Society 15: 24-26.
Plain language summary
This note documents the first verifiable record of leek moth, in Nova Scotia. Leek moth is a serious pest of cultivated Allium in Ontario including leek, garlic and onion. Garlic scapes with larvae were submitted to the Kentville Research and Development Centre (KRDC) in July 2017. Adults were reared out and visually identified as leek moth. Specimens were sent to the Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes for confirmation and housing. A broad survey in 2018 found leek moth in the agricultural regions of Nova Scotia.
Abstract
This note documents the first verifiable record of Acrolepiopsis assectella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Acrolepiidae), leek moth, in Nova Scotia. Acrolepiopsis assectella is a serious pest of cultivated Allium in Ontario including leek (A. porrum (L.)), garlic (A. sativum L.) and onion (A. cepa L.) Larval specimens from Greenfield, Nova Scotia, were collected in July 2017 from garlic scapes and submitted to the Kentville Research and Development Centre (KRDC). Adult stages were identified initially by visual comparison with picture keys (Allen et al. 2016), with voucher adult specimens verified by JF Landry, Curator of Lepidoptera, Canadian National Collection of Insects, Arachnids and Nematodes, Ottawa. Voucher specimens are housed with the Canadian National Collection of Insects in Ottawa and in the collection at KRDC. A survey conducted in 2018 found leek moth throughout the agricultural regions of Nova Scotia.