Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet Edition

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Bele (Abelmoschus) leafminer (256)

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Photo 1. Mines and adjacent damage along veins covering most of the leaves of bele caused by the bele leaf miner, Acrocercops sp.

Photo 2. Extensive damage caused by the bele leaf miner, Acrocercops sp.

Photo 3. Adult bele leafminers, Acrocercops patellata bred from bele, Abelmoschus manihot.

Photo 4. Adult bele leafminers, Acrocercops patellata, and pupa derived from mines on Malay apple, Syzygium malaccense.

Summary

• World distribution unknown. On bele (aibika, sliperi kabis, island cabbage,  Abelmoschus manihot), and other members of the Hibiscus family, including the cultivated Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and the wild Hibiscus tiliaceus. An important pest.
• Mines caused by a moth larva making leaves inedible. Mines occur alongside veins, causing paper-thin, silvery, bronzed shiny areas.
• Cultural control: squash the mines by hand if numbers are small; if numerous, remove affected leaves and burn; do not plant next to infested gardens; after last harvest, pull out and burn the plants.
• Chemical control: use soap, white or horticultural oils; use PDPs (with soap): chilli, derris, pyrethrum, or neem; use synthetic pyrethroids, or systemic products, e.g., acephate or imidacloprid, but they are more likely to kill natural enemies.

Common Name

There is no common name. Here it is called bele leafminer.

Scientific Name

Acrocercops panall, a member of the Gracillariidae family. Acrocercops cathedrae is recorded from Papua New Guinea¹.

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