Leaf Miner—A Pest Insect That Targets
Just About Anything That Grows
The leaf miner is an insect that lays its eggs in the spongy layer of leaves. The larvae tunnel through the leaf, which gives it a brownish, spotty appearance. Its preferred plants are spinach, pumpkin, peppers, squash and tomatoes.Leaf miners harm almost all plant groups. These pests easily mine vegetation, including marine plants, using milky juices, toxic to other creatures. Leaf miners tend to be most plentiful in the tropics but are broadly dispersed in the warm zones. They're more damaging in the southern U.S. than anywhere else in the country. Leaf miners are approximately 1/8 inch (3 mm) long. A couple generations cycle through each summer. Their lifespan is usually three weeks from egg to adult. The majority of leaf-miner tunnels are small, twisting, creamy-colored tracks. Although they don't produce much damage, they mar the look of attractive shrubs and trees. Leaf Miner Controls- Neem oil
- Hand picking
- Destroying infested leaves
- Parasitic wasps
Use can also use trap plants nearby the target plants. For instance, velvetleaf, columbine and lambsquarter may draw attention away from other plants. Trap plants are a form of companion planting. From Leaf Miner to Organic Pest Remedies H-N
|
