Does anyone here have any knowledge of Amaryllis (Hippeastrum) and Narcissus bulb fly?
I own several Amaryllis plants and I like to put them outside in the summer to build themselves up in the better light. Many years, too many of them are destroyed or severely damaged by a plump larvae that I believe to be from Narcissus bulb flies. It's odd that I don't seem to notice of my white narcissus missing. They are growing just several yards from where I place the Amaryllis and are chronically over crowded. Daffodils growing elsewhere in the yard also seem to come back just fine every year.
Still, I believe Narcissus bulb fly to be my problem. (Does anyone have another idea?) I'm thinking I might be safe putting them out later in the season, like maybe August. Where I live, the Narcissus are just now having their leaves turn brown. Maybe in another 3 weeks, the bulb flies will have finished the adult phase of their life cycle and the Amaryllis would be safe? That would still give them a couple of months before frost.
Does anyone here know enough about this to confirm or correct my ideas?
Steve (in the Adirondacks of northern NY)