Pest identification
What's eating my garden carrot?
Carrot fly (Psila rosae)
Signs: Rusty brown tunnels bored through roots by cream-colored larvae; foliage yellows and wilts
Control: Cover with fine insect-proof mesh or fleece from sowing; avoid thinning on still days (scent attracts females); sow in late May to miss the first generation
Willow-carrot aphid (Cavariella aegopodii)
Signs: Yellowing, distorted foliage; aphids cluster on stems and can transmit carrot motley dwarf virus
Control: Encourage ladybirds and lacewings; blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap if colonies are heavy
Slugs and snails
Signs: Irregular surface scarring on shoulders of roots at soil level; seedlings eaten off at ground
Control: Use iron phosphate pellets around rows; create rough bark-chip barriers; hand-pick at night
Rabbits
Signs: Foliage grazed to stubs; young plants can be pulled and eaten entirely
Control: Surround the bed with 90 cm wire-mesh fencing buried 15 cm underground; use row covers as a dual deterrent
Keep garden carrot pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
Garden Carrot pests — FAQ
What is eating my garden carrot?
Carrots are targeted by carrot fly (the primary threat), aphids, and slugs, while rabbits and deer browse the feathery tops. Underground larvae from carrot fly are the most destructive, tunneling through roots and leaving rusty channels. Row covers and companion planting with onions are the headline defenses.
How do I get rid of carrot fly (psila rosae) on garden carrot?
Rusty brown tunnels bored through roots by cream-colored larvae; foliage yellows and wilts Cover with fine insect-proof mesh or fleece from sowing; avoid thinning on still days (scent attracts females); sow in late May to miss the first generation
How do I get rid of willow-carrot aphid (cavariella aegopodii) on garden carrot?
Yellowing, distorted foliage; aphids cluster on stems and can transmit carrot motley dwarf virus Encourage ladybirds and lacewings; blast off with a strong water jet; apply insecticidal soap if colonies are heavy
How do I get rid of slugs and snails on garden carrot?
Irregular surface scarring on shoulders of roots at soil level; seedlings eaten off at ground Use iron phosphate pellets around rows; create rough bark-chip barriers; hand-pick at night
How do I get rid of rabbits on garden carrot?
Foliage grazed to stubs; young plants can be pulled and eaten entirely Surround the bed with 90 cm wire-mesh fencing buried 15 cm underground; use row covers as a dual deterrent