Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionSweetpotato leafminer (341)
Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds - Mini Fact Sheet EditionSweetpotato leafminer (341)
Summary
- Worldwide distribution. On sweet potato and related weeds. Usually, minor importance unless broad-spectrum insecticides used for e.g., sweet potato weevil control.
- Larvae make silvery, snake-like, mines filled with frass; later, blotches occur developing into holes.
- Eggs on leaves; larvae, up to 5.5 mm long, yellowish with pink spots along the back, developing into red, rounded, projections on all segments. Later, larvae exit the mines, living under silk threads on backs of leaves, and pupate. Adults, greyish brown, up to 4 mm long, 10 mm wingspan, fringed, with tufts of light yellow to brown hairs on the head.
- Natural enemies: usually under control by parasiotids (Apanteles).
- Cultural control: none recommended.
- Chemical control: none recommended. Insecticides will destroy the biological control.
Common Name
Sweetpotato leaf miner, morning glory leafminer
Scientific Name
Bedellia somnulentella; previously known as Bedellia ipomoeae.
AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
1Information from Swaine G (1971) Agricultural Zoology in Fiji. Her Majesty's Stationery Office. London; and Sweet potato leafminer (Bedellia somnulentella) Plantwise Knowledge Bank. (http://www.plantwise.org/KnowledgeBank/Datasheet.aspx?dsid=8761); and Sweetpotato DiagNotes Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller). (http://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/sweetpotato/key/Sweetpotato%20Diagnotes/Media/Html/TheProblems/Pest-LeafChewingInsects/LeafMiners/Leaf%20miner.htm); and from Discover Life Bedellia somnulentella (Zeller 1847 Morning glory leafminer. (http://www.discoverlife.org/mp/20q?search=Bedellia+somnulentella). Photo 1 Ben Smart Bedellia somnulentella UK Moths. (http://www.ukmoths.org.uk/species/bedellia-somnulentella/mine/). Photo 2 Mark Dreiling, Bugwood.org. Photo 3 Bedellia somnulentella Wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedellia_somnulentella).
Produced with support from the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research under project PC/2010/090: Strengthening integrated crop management research in the Pacific Islands in support of sustainable intensification of high-value crop production, implemented by the University of Queensland and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
This mini fact sheet is a part of the app Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds
The mobile application is available from the Google Play Store and Apple iTunes.
Copyright © 2020. All rights reserved.