Virginia’s Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs), Extension personnel, and farmers are invited to participate in research to collect information related to the invasive insect pest, allium leafminer, in Virginia.
Project Overview:
This project aims to involve Virginia Cooperative Extension Volunteers and personnel in identifying and mapping the spread of the allium leafminer (Phytomyza gymnostoma), an invasive pest that poses a significant threat to allium crops, including onions, garlic, shallots, and ornamental alliums. By involving VCE Extension Master Gardeners (EMGs) and VCE Extension Agents, we will collect data on the presence and impact of allium leafminer, expanding our understanding of its distribution and effects on local ecosystems. The data collected will help inform local pest management practices and contribute to regional efforts to control the spread of this invasive species.
Pest Details:
Allium leafminer (ALM) (Phytomyza gymnostoma) Loew (Diptera: Agromyzidae), an invasive pest first detected in the United States in 2015, has spread through onion-growing regions in the Northeast and Midwest. This pest has a host range that includes ornamental, wild, and cultivated allium crops such as onions, garlic, shallots, and ramps.
ALM in Virginia: Extension Publication (coming soon)
NYSIPM Allium Leafminer Factsheet
First Report of ALM in North America
Project Timeline:
Fall 2024-Feb 2025: Planning Phase I and material development, Scouting Training Webinar
Feb 2025- May 2025: Community Engaged Science Work: Mapping the Distribution of ALM in Virginia and Validating Bioindicators of Spring ALM Emergence in VA.
May 2025-September 2025: Data Review, Public Update, and Planning Phase II
September 2025- December 2025: TBD
Get Involved:
Scout your area for allium leafminer! Read the scouting procedures document below, and submit data through digital or print means. If you have questions about this project, contact Grace Stern at allium@vt.edu .
If you’re an Extension Master Gardener in Virginia, talk to your local coordinator about logging hours for this- we have shared information with them. Contact emgoffice@vt.edu with questions about logging hours for this project.