Methods to Control Leaf Miners

Leaf miners are a family of small flies that consist of 2,500 species, the damage is done not by the adult but by the larvae that tunnel or burrow into the plant’s leaves to feed. Their feeding pattern creates mines, the adult leaf miner and the larvae are rarely seen. The leaf miner larvae feed on a number of plants from agricultural crops, orchard trees, woody and herbaceous plants, and even greenhouse plants.  Because the larvae feed in the plant’s leaves they affect the amount of chlorophyll in the leaf, when this happens the plant can no longer photosynthesize sufficient energy for the plant. Infested leaves ( leaf defoliation) will drop off the plants in server cases.

Leaf Miner Biology

• During the winter months ther surive as pupae.
• Once the warmer months arrives April through may the adult leaf miner emerges.
• The Adult female inserts her eggs into the leaves.
• Once the egg hatch the larvae feed and develop within the leaf tissue between surface.
• During the nesxt 2-3 weeks the larave becomes very active.
• After a few weeks the larvae drop to the ground next to the plants to transform into pupae.
• Several generations can develop in one year.

Leaf Miner Symptoms

• The adult leaf miner may be visible on plants.
• Trails or ‘mines’—light green to white squiggles on leaf surfaces.
• Leaf curling on new growth.
• Sometimes a blackened stripe at the edge of the tunnel.
• As the grubs grow the trail gets wider.

Deter Leaf Miners with these Plants:

Many species of garden plants will repel leaf miners, and incorporating them in your garden can help to bring control, some of these plants include.

• Garlic
• Rosemary
•  Fennel
•  Marigold
• Dill
• Lavender
• Variegated plants

Other Methods to Protect Your Garden Plants from Leaf Miners

• If you suspect that you have a leaf miner issue then the first step is identification, Use a hand lens or a magnifying glass to search for the eggs of the leaf which is carefully checking the undersides of the leaves since this is the area where the female lays her eggs.
• Infected leaves should be removed and properly disposed of in the trash can, avoid placing leaves in compost pile.
• Apply neem oil to infected plants, but before spray application read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results., the ideal pesticides are organic especially if treating edible plants.
• Beneficial insect is another option for the control of leaf miners for example Beneficial parasitic wasps (Diglyphus isaea), target leaf miner larvae by laying their eggs inside the host insect or the leaf miner’s pupae. once the eggs hatch the parasitic larvae will feed on the leaf miner larvae. This continuous feed will kill the leaf miner larvae.
• Non-organic pesticides will contaminate edible crops and kill off beneficial insects.
• Hanging yellow sticky traps around your garden will trap the adult leaf miners as they stick to the surface of the sticky trap. This will help to disrupt their lifecycle, these traps can also help you to detect their presence and to put additional measures in place to bring control. Sticky traps can be purchased from your plant nursery or garden center.

The Use of Physical Barrier

• Cheesecloth is ideal for covering plants, especially crops from leaf miners and other garden pests, the reason for this is because cheesecloth is lightweight, but will allow sunlight, water, and air to filter through.
• Another material that can be used to protect against leaf miners is fine-meshed netting row covers.
• Physical barriers should be applied in areas where leaf miner issues have been observed within the last year.

Maintain a Tidy Garden

In any garden or landscape the key to having healthy plants is to properly maintain your garden plants, a well-maintained garden will control garden pests and plant disease, here is what to do.

• Keep your garden free of weeds because weeds will compete with garden plants for sunlight, nutrients, and water. Weeds also harbor garden insect pests and some weeds are known to be carriers of diseases.
• Ensure that your plants are getting the required sunlight and water.
• Make sure to plant in the right soil type for that particular plant species.
• After a while soil can become depleted of nutrients, applying compost or other organic amendments will help to build and keep your garden soil healthy.
• Removed all debris including leaves from your garden bed.
• When pruning, prune at the right time of the year for that plant species and ensure you’re pruning correctly.
• Keep your pruner sharp and sterilized, and make sure that other garden tools are cleaned as well.
• Make sure to remove diseased plant parts and sterilize your pruner, pruning saw and lopper shears after each pruning procedure to control the spread of disease.
• Apply the correct fertilizer at the proper rate.

Additional information

Once your crop has been harvested, it’s important to till your garden soil, this action will kill pupae hiding in the soil.

Conclusion

Leaf miners like other garden insect pests can be controlled but it is by only putting the proper methods in place. These measures we have discussed will not only protect your garden plants from leaf miners but other garden insect pests as well. If you have a leaf miner issue or suspect that you have one then this guide is your blueprint to ensure that these garden pests are stopped in their tracks to provide you with a garden that’s free of leaf miners and other garden pests.