Pest identification
What's eating my cylindra beet?
Beet leaf miner (Pegomya hyoscyami)
Signs: Pale, meandering mines in leaf tissue; heavily mined plants lose vigour and reduce root size
Control: Fine-mesh row cover; remove and bin affected leaves; encourage parasitic wasps
Wireworm (Agriotes spp. larvae)
Signs: Small bore-holes drilled into the elongated root, creating entry points for rot pathogens
Control: Avoid planting after grass or weedy ground; cultivate soil to expose larvae to birds; use wireworm traps (carrot pieces buried 10 cm deep)
Black bean aphid (Aphis fabae)
Signs: Colonies on leaf undersides and petioles causing yellowing and reduced root fill
Control: Insecticidal soap spray; water-jet knock-off; companion planting with nasturtiums as decoy hosts
Flea beetle (Chaetocnema concinna)
Signs: Shot-hole damage to seedling leaves, potentially fatal to very young plants
Control: Row cover; delay sowing until weather warms and plants can outgrow damage; kaolin clay
Keep cylindra beet pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Cylindra Beet pests — FAQ
What is eating my cylindra beet?
Cylindra beet's elongated root sits partly exposed in the soil, making it vulnerable to the same foliar pests as round beets — leaf miners, aphids, and flea beetles — plus soil-dwelling pests like wireworms that can bore into the root. Row covers and good soil preparation are the key defences for this variety.
How do I get rid of beet leaf miner (pegomya hyoscyami) on cylindra beet?
Pale, meandering mines in leaf tissue; heavily mined plants lose vigour and reduce root size Fine-mesh row cover; remove and bin affected leaves; encourage parasitic wasps
How do I get rid of wireworm (agriotes spp. larvae) on cylindra beet?
Small bore-holes drilled into the elongated root, creating entry points for rot pathogens Avoid planting after grass or weedy ground; cultivate soil to expose larvae to birds; use wireworm traps (carrot pieces buried 10 cm deep)
How do I get rid of black bean aphid (aphis fabae) on cylindra beet?
Colonies on leaf undersides and petioles causing yellowing and reduced root fill Insecticidal soap spray; water-jet knock-off; companion planting with nasturtiums as decoy hosts
How do I get rid of flea beetle (chaetocnema concinna) on cylindra beet?
Shot-hole damage to seedling leaves, potentially fatal to very young plants Row cover; delay sowing until weather warms and plants can outgrow damage; kaolin clay