Pacific Pests, Pathogens and Weeds - Online edition

Pacific Pests, Pathogens & Weeds

Leafminers - General (110)


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Summary

  • Worldwide distribution. There are several types attacking cucumber, bean, tomato, cabbage, and other families, and many plants in the cut flower trade. Damage is done by the larvae or maggot; the adult is a fly. 
  • Eggs laid beneath leaf surface; larvae hatch and mine the leaves, which dry up and fall early; loss of leaves may cause sunburn. Damage also done by female using ovipositors to feed on sap (both sexes feed on nectar).
  • Biosecurity: not all species in all countries.
  • Natural enemies: many exist giving effective control.
  • Cultural control: remove weeds as they are leafminer hosts; collect and destroy trash after harvest.
  • Chemical control: Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), spinosad, abamectin, cyromazine; resistance to pyrethroids exists.

Common Name

Leafminers. See other fact sheets for accounts on separate species (Fact Sheet nos. 259, 262 and 377).

Scientific Name

Liriomyza sativae (vegetable leafminer); Liriomyza trifolii (chrysanthemum leafminer or American serpentine leafminer), Liriomyza huidobrensis (serpentine leafminer); Liriomyza brassicae (cabbage or serpentine leafminer).


AUTHOR Grahame Jackson
Information from Waterhouse DF, Norris KR (1987) Biological Control Pacific Prospects. Inkata Press; and Liriomyza huidobrensis (serpentine leafminer-https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/30956), Liriomyza brassicae (serpentine leafminer-https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/30949), Liriomyza sativae (vegetable leaf miner-https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/30960), and Liriomyza trifolii (American serpentine leafminer-https://www.cabi.org/cpc/datasheet/30965). Crop Protection Compendium; and Leaf miner (2020) Department of Agriculture and Water Resources. (hhttps://www.agriculture.gov.au/pests-diseases-weeds/plant/leaf-miner); and from Sooda A et al. (2017) Multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection of three invasive leafminer species: Liriomyza huidobrensis, L. sativae and L. trifolii (Diptera: Agromyzidae). Austral Entomology 56, 153-159. Photo 1 Pest and Diseases Image Library, Bugwood.org. Photo 2&5 J. Poorani, National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Insects (formerly PDBC), Bangalore, Karnataka, India. Photos 3&4 Ella Pirtle, cesar Pty. Ltd., 293, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria, Australia. Photos 6&7 and editing Peter Ridland. University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

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.

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