Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionCabbage leafminer (377)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionCabbage leafminer (377)
Summary
- Widespread distribution. In Oceania, several Pacific island countries. A major pest of many important vegetables in the cabbage and legume families, and weeds. Identification needs taxonomic expertise.
- Damage: Eggs laid both sides of leaf under epidermis. Larvae make irregular, pale-coloured mines in leaves that gradually widen; mines have dark green line of faeces in middle. Pupation is in the soil. Adults take sap from leaves (females only) and feed on nectar.
- Spread is by flying and via international horticultural trade.
- Biosecurity: trade in horticultural produce across national borders is a risk and needs careful regulation.
- Natural enemies: many predators and wasp parasitoids.
- Cultural control: weed, nursery and field; plough exposing pupae before planting; check nursery plants before planting out; avoid overlapping crops; handpick or squash leaves with mines; high-value crops - cover soil with mulch preventing adults emerging; collect and burn debris after harvest.
- Chemical control: biorational i) insecticidal soap, white or horticultural oils; ii) botanicals (chillies, neem, derris, pyrethrum); iii) microbials (abamectin, spinosad). Avoid organophosphates and synthetic pyrethroids.
Common Name
Cabbage leafminer, Serpentine leafminer (the same common name is given to other leafminers (see Fact Sheets nos. 110, 259, 262 & 377)
Scientific Name
Liriomyza brassicae
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from CABI (2018) Liriomyza brassicae (sepentine leafminer). Crop Protection Compendium. (www.cabi.org/cpc); and from Martin NA (2017) Cabbage leafminer - Liriomyza brassicae. Internesting Insects & other Invertebrates, Plant & Food Research. (https://nzacfactsheets.landcareresearch.co.nz/factsheet/InterestingInsects/Cabbage-leafminer---Liriomyza-brassicae.html). Photos 1&2 P Ridland. Polyphagous Agromyzid Leafminers. (http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/leafminers/key/Polyphagous%20Agromyzid%20Leafminers/Media/Html/Liriomyza_brassicae.htm). Photos 3&4 Ella Pirtle, cesar, 293, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Photos 6&7 Peter Ridland. University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project HORT/2016/185: Responding to emerging pest and disease threats to horticulture in the Pacific islands, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
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