Leafminers

Common: Serpentine Leaf Miner, Vegetables Leaf Miner, Pea Leafminer

Scientific: Liriomyza trifolii, Liriomyza sativa, Liriomyza huidobrensis

Crop Hosts: Celery, cabbage, tomato, bean, potato.

Identification and Life Cycle: In temperate areas the insect overwinters as a pupa in the soil. After emergence the shiny black fly emerges and oviposits white oval eggs at the leaf base or within leaf tissue. The eggs hatch in 4 days and the yellowish larvae mine into the leaves. The entire cycle takes 21 to 23 days.

Geographical Distribution: Most vegetable growing areas in the United States.

Damage and Treatment: The larvae feeding between the leaf surfaces leave winding mines or large blotches that decrease photosynthesis, promote disease and decay and make the produce unsaleable.

Treatment should be made when insect populations and/or damage levels reach economic thresholds. Refer to local University Extension Pest Management Guidelines for specific state thresholds.