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Leafminers on Ornamental Plants 1
Eileen A. Buss2Leafminers are usually the larvae of flies, moths, or beetles that feed or "mine" between the upper and lower epidermal leaf surfaces. The larvae tunnel through the leaf creating a narrow, whitish colored serpentine (winding) mine (Figure 1 ) or blotch (blister) ( Figure 2 ) type mine. The tunnel is clear, except for the trail of black fecal material left behind as larvae feed. Female flies puncture or "stipple" leaves with their ovipositors to lay eggs in the leaf tissue or to feed on sap. Many ornamental plants are attacked by leafminers, but azalea, bougainvillaea, ixora, hollies, chrysanthemum, lantana, oak, and boxwood are some of the preferred hosts.
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Figure 1. Citrus leafminer damage.
CREDITS: University of Florida
Figure 2. Locust digitate leafminer. Leafminer damage is very obvious, but healthy plants should be able to tolerate considerable injury before losing vigor or yield. However, during heavy infestations, plants appear bleached or faded and their aesthetic value is reduced. In some cases, the leaves turn yellow and drop, due in part to the entry of pathogenic fungi and bacteria into old mines. The following are examples of some common leafminer species, but many more species exist.
Azaela Leaf Miner
Azalea leaf miner, Caloptilia azaleella, larvae make blister-like blotch mines on azalea ( Figure 3 ). Single, white eggs are laid along a vein on the underside of a leaf. Larvae feed singly between the leaf tissue layers. A mine turns brown when the larva exits the mine, goes to the upper leaf surface, pulls the leaf over its body with silk, and chews holes in the leaf. A mature larva later chooses an intact leaf, rolls it up, and pupates inside. A small, yellow moth emerges after about 1 week and mates. Three or more generations may occur with overlapping life stages in Florida. The feeding damage is disfiguring, but does not destroy whole leaves.
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Figure 3. Azalea leafminer damage. Yellow Poplar Weevil
Yellow poplar weevil, Odontopus calceatus, is also called the sassafras weevil, magnolia leafminer, and tuliptree leafminer, which reflects its host range. It also feeds on Laurus nobilis. The beetle larvae make blotch mines ( Figure 4 ) in the leaves, and adults ( Figure 5 ) feed on buds and leaves. Larvae are white, legless, and less than 2 mm long. Up to nine larvae may be in one mine. Pupation occurs in the mine. This is rarely an economically damaging pest, but adults may be pests by entering buildings in the winter.
CREDITS: University of Florida
Figure 4. Yellow poplar weevil damage.
Figure 5. Yellow poplar weevil adult. Blotch Leafminer
The blotch leafminer, Amauromyza maculosa , is a pest of chrysanthemums in Florida landscapes, but is not a big problem commercial production. The adult is a small, shiny black fly, less than 3 mm long. Larvae are yellowish-white, and about 3 mm long. This fly has many hosts in the Compositae: Baccharis, Bidens, Chrysanthemum, Emilia, Erechtites, Eupatorium, Gaillardia, Gnaphalium, Helianthus, Melanthera, Senecio, Sonchus, and Tagetes. Three to six larvae commonly occur in a community mine. Heavy infestations may kill some leaves, but most damage is just aesthetic.Citrus Leafminer
The citrus leafminer, Phyllocnistis citrella , is a potentially serious pest of citrus, kumquat, calamondin, and native Rutaceae. Adults are tiny moths (2 mm long), with white and silvery forewings and a black spot on each wingtip. Eggs are laid singly on the underside of young leaves. Larvae make meandering serpentine mines, which may result in leaf curling. However, both leaf surfaces may be infested during outbreaks. Usually, only one mine occurs per leaf, but heavy infestations can have 2-9 mines per leaf. Injury may also occur in succulent stems and fruits. Larvae pupate near the leaf edge. In Florida, one generation may be completed within 3 weeks, with several overlapping generations per year.Cultural Control
Prune off and destroy infested branches. Keep plants healthy (properly irrigated and fertilized) so they can tolerate and outgrow the damage.Biological Control
Populations are generally prevented from reaching truly damaging levels by a number of parasitic wasps that attack leafminers in Florida. Wasp larvae develop on or in the leafminer larva or pupa, and pupation occurs in or near host remains. In some species, the wasp stings the host, injects a paralyzing venom, lays an egg and its larva develops externally. The host ceases to feed and the parasitoid egg or larva is visible through the leaf epidermis. Parasitoid larvae developing internally are usually solitary, and after several days of development may be seen inside their leafminer host by using a hand lens against strong light.Chemical Control
Leafminers are difficult to control because they are protected by the leaf tissue. The best time to manage leafminers is when larvae first hatch inside the leaves and begin to feed, but the damage may be inconspicuous. Treatment at this time also minimizes plant damage. But, if many large or long mines are seen, the leafminer may have completed its development, and control is not useful.Table 1. Insecticides labeled for non-commercial (homeowner) use against leafminers in Florida.
Active Ingredient
Trade Name
Chemical Class
Acephate
Ortho Orthenex Garden Insect & Disease Control
Organophosphate
Carbaryl
Sevin
Carbamate
Cyfluthrin
Bayer Advanced Rose & Flower Insect Killer Schultz Lawn & Garden Insect Killer
Pyrethroid
Imidacloprid
Bayer Advanced Lawn Complete Insect Killer Bayer Advanced Tree & Shrub Insect Control
Neonicotinoid
Paraffinic Oil
SunSpray Horticultural Oil
Biorational
Permethrin
Ortho Bug-B-Gon Max Garden Insect Dust Ortho Mosquito-B-Gon Tree, Shrub & Lawn Concentrate
Pyrethroid
Pyrethrins
Bonide Yard & Garden Insect Killer Spectracide Bug Stop Insect Killer
Green Light Fruit Tree Spray
Botanical
Systemic insecticides may provide the greatest control of leafminers. A systemic insecticide is absorbed into the leaf tissue, killing the insects inside. Non-systemic insecticides stay on the leaf surface and do not affect insects inside of them. Thorough spray coverage of the upper and lower leaf surfaces is especially important. Apply the pesticide according to directions outlined on the container label.
Table 2. Insecticides labeled for use by professional applicators to control leafminers on ornamental plants.
Active Ingredient
Florida Registered Products
Chemical Class
Signal Word
Abamectin Avid 0.15 EC Macrocyclic Lactone
Warning Acephate Acephate Pro 75 Orthene
Organophosphate
Caution Caution
Acetamiprid
TriStar
Neonicotinoid
Caution
Azadirachtin
Azatin XL Azatrol EC
Ornazin
Botanical
Caution Caution
Caution
Bifenthrin TalstarOne
Pyrethroid
Caution
Buprofezin
Talus
Insect growth regulator Caution Carbaryl
Sevin SL Sevin 80 WSP
Carbamate
Caution Warning
Cyfluthrin + imidacloprid Discus
Pyrethroid + Neonicotinoid Caution
Cyromazine Citation
Insect growth regulator
Caution
Deltamethrin DeltaGard T&O
Pyrethroid
Caution
Diazinon* Diazinon (RUP)
Organophosphate
Caution
Diflubenzuron Adept Dimilin (RUP)
Insect growth regulator
Caution Caution
Dinotefuran Safari
Neonicotinoid
Caution
Fenpropathrin Tame 2.4 EC (RUP)
Pyrethroid
Warning Imidacloprid Merit Marathon*
Neonicotinoid
Caution Caution
Permethrin Ambush 25W Astro
Permethrin Pro Termite-Turf-Ornamental
Pounce 3.2 EC*
Pyrethroid
Warning Caution
Caution
Caution
Pyriproxyfen Distance IGR
Insect growth regulator
Caution Spinosad Conserve SC Bulls-eye Bioinsecticide
Microbial
Caution Caution
*Not for residential use RUP = restricted use pesticide
For More Information
Blotch Leafminer (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN230 )
Citrus Leafminer (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/IN165 )
Johnson, W. T. and H. H. Lyon. 1991. Insects that feed on trees and shrubs. Cornell University, Japan. 560 pp.
Leaf-mining Insects: http://chemical-ecology. net/insects/leafmine.htm
Footnotes
1. This document is ENY-326 (MG006), one of a series of the Department of Entomology and Nematology, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Date first printed: October 1993. Revised: June 2006. Please visit the EDIS Website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.2. Eileen A. Buss, assistant professor, Department of Entomology and Nematology, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.
The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Larry Arrington, Dean.
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