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Leaf miner
Liriomyza spp.
PestLow impact
Larvae of small flies that tunnel between the upper and lower surfaces of leaves, leaving characteristic winding pale trails or blotch mines. Damage is mostly cosmetic on established plants.
Currently in peak season - extra vigilance worthwhile.
Key facts
- Type
- Pest
- Active season
- May - Sep
- Peak season
- Jun - Aug
- Vulnerable stages
- Growing · Harvesting
- Spread rate
- slow
- If confirmed
- Monitor
Signs & symptoms
- -pale, winding serpentine trails or irregular blotch-shaped mines inside leaves
- -affected areas appearing translucent or blistered
- -small brown pupae sometimes visible at the end of mines
Management
Do now
- -Remove and bin heavily mined leaves - the larva inside will not be recoverable
- -Crush visible larvae through the leaf if the mine is accessible
Prevention
- -Encourage parasitic wasps which naturally control leaf miner populations
- -Clear crop debris promptly at the end of the season