Leafminers

I have had a problem with these darn things all season. I have been told its almost impossible to kill them with sprays after the tunnels appear. I found a "funny" thing on one of my zinnas. On a leaf were a "pile" of tiny black eggs. They were in a pile and some fell on a couple of other leaves. Are these the eggs of the leafminer? I also found a few on my cucumber plant. I was told if you could spray the eggs that would be the only control for leafminers. Anyone know about this? I lost all my chili pepper plants and have been out like a detective pulling every leaf I find with a "tunnel" on it on all my other plants.

Leaf miners usually lay eggs singly or in rows of 5 along the midrib. Have you tried row covers to keep the adult leafminers from laying eggs?
Avid works on leafminers(not labeled for vegetables), and the brand that contains the same ingredient(abamectin) is sold as Agri-Mek and is labeled for vegetables.

Calalily, thanks again for the information. Will do. Would you have any idea what the black eggs would be? Also all of a sudden the sparrows have found my zinnas. They are eating every leaf there is what the heck is goin on?? I get alot of gold finches that do that but all of a sudden HuH???

Try using Neem oil spray every couple of weeks for your leafminer problem. It won't affect the ones already on the plant but it seems to repel the adults trying to lay eggs. Also, pick off the leaves affected and continue to do that thoroughout the season. This interrups the life cycle of the little critters because they don't get a chance to lay more eggs. I had a terrible problem with leafminers on my columbines and after a year of being really diligent about destroying the affected leaves, my plants are beautiful (these are perennials here and I've had the bed about 6 years.)

Light oil sprays seem to help as well, but you have to be careful about burn. The eggs layed in a circular patter could be from whitefly. Neem or agricultural oils are good for these as well. You did good by picking off the affected leaves. The larvea pupate and fall to the ground (or is it the other way around?) and can overwinter there.

resurrected as I have some on my swiss chard and it has me worried. I dont want to eat em.... How destroyed to the picked off leafs need to be?

Drew

It's my guess that your "little pile of black eggs" is actually a little pile of bug droppings.

probably I have found that the leafminer eggs I am finding are TINY and white. They get laid about 5 side by side like cigars in a box and then next to those there will be 3 of 4 others long end to long end but they are short end to short end side by side. The point where the eggs are laid is also the entry point for the Maggot. They are AGRIVATING THE HE*&Z% out of me. I am not sure but I may have got them... Will know soon.

Drew

Drew, did the pyola work?

I used merit on the hollyhocks, but wouldn't use it on veggies, 7 dust maybe? never had leaf miners on veggies though

Dunno yet... Still have some but it may be from less than complete leaf covereage. It is frusterating as I dont want to eat them.

Drew

I thought they were on beets? Beet greens are yummy, but not a staple LOL. Or do you mean you don't want to eat the leafminers?

Beets and the chard right next to the beets... And I like Beed Greens


Drew

Me too. Still don't understand, guess I don't know what leaf miners look like.... you can't wash them off? Something has been eating my beet greens too--our salad bowl, LOL

Tamara

They are hard to see... Look like a little house fly and they lay little tiny white eggs on the underside of the leaves that hatch out and the maggot gets into the inside of the leaf and leaves lilttle trails as he eats my food.

Drew

oh, I just HAD to ask, didn't I?

Wouldn't you want to REMOVE the infected leaves? Hope they left you some to eat. I would share my beet greens with you, but

THEY ARE ALL MINE!

What kinda beets?

Detroit Dark Red Beets and Bright Lights Chard... Ruined... And yes removal is healthier but there are a lot and so I am actually reating leaves in half and looking for eggs as my feel is take all the leaves off and the beet will suffer.

Drew

The rabbits got most of my Detriot Dark Red. Actually, one rabbit, and I saw the guy leaving. NEVER go into the house for five minutes without covering the beets...

But some are trying to grow back.

Meanwhile, I am really enjoying this heirloom beet. Well, I am enjoying watching it grow, and eating some greens now and then. Got it from www.seedsofchange.com, the name of it escapes me... it is yellow and big