I have been away on holiday in the USA and came back to find that the leeks on our allotment in Curry Rivel had been devastated. What had been 4 rows of large healthy plants has resulted in 4 helpings of leek soup!
The culprit is
473 Acrolepiosis assectella - the Leek Moth - and it appears that it has been a problem as far afield as Taunton. According to the UK Moths website it is not common enough to be a pest in the UK, but can achieve this status in parts of continental Europe.
The buzz among allotment holders is that the moth must have migrated from France! Is it a migratory species? I don't know the answer.
A few of the allotment holders who were around when the outbreak started sprayed their leeks and it seems to have worked.
Like Peter I had my first Merveille du Jour on Friday night - the highlight of an otherwise poor GMS night catch.