Leaf Miners are basically any insect that lays its eggs in
the spongy layer between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves. The
vast majority of leaf-mining insects are moths and flies, some beetles
and wasps also exhibit this behavior. A few mining insects utilize other
parts of a plant, such as the surface of a fruit. Various
varieties attack various plants, There are over 200 species of leaf
miners. Primarily named according to the plant they infest.
Larvae develop between the leaf
surfaces and tunnel or 'mine' out the spongy middle
layer as they grow. Wiggly lines on leaves are a
tell-tale sign of a leaf miner attack .
There can be up to four generations of the insect in a
season depending upon the locality and climatic conditions. The first
generation of the insect causes the most damage. Adults begin egg laying
in the spring when the leaves start to unfold. At this time of the year,
all leaf tissue is soft and favorable for larval development. They
are extremely prolific and spend most of their adult lives depositing
their eggs on the underside of host plants. The larvae proceed to spend
their lives just under the surface of the leaves gorging themselves
..they tunnel through the plant (Hence the term leaf-miner )
Controls
For Leaf miners
The key aspect of managing leaf miner infestations is
to detect it before it becomes too difficult to deal with. Plant
inspection is one detection method. Another method is to use
Yellow Sticky Traps
,
placed slightly above crop height
Recommended Control For Leaf Miners is *
Bioneem It's
effectiveness is based on several modes of action.
- It disrupts insects' hormonal balance so they die
before they molt to the next life stage.
- It suppresses some insects' desire to feed and
also repels in areas that have been sprayed.
These modes of action result in a broader
spectrum of control for the majority of harmful insects while at the
same time it spares many beneficial insects such as
Beneficial Nematodes
and Lady Bugs
that prey on undesirable insects.
Bioneem -
Multi-purpose Concentrate Insecticide and Repellent is
for fruits, vegetables, flowers and ornamentals in and
around the home. Bioneem kills or repels aphids,
beetles, caterpillars, leafminers, thrips, whiteflies
and other pests.
