Leaf miners

gregory · September 4, 2015

They hit my fall tomatoes soon as I transplanted them in early July.
I pulled off all the bad leafs, and it seemed it was ok, but now they are back
In even larger amounts. They also invaded the basil as well as the miss silver crowder peas. It was bad enough with the aphids on the peas, but this is getting out of hand.

Has anyone had any experience in getting rid of these with something safe like a biological substitute

ginger2778 · September 4, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregory

They hit my fall tomatoes soon as I transplanted them in early July.
I pulled off all the bad leafs, and it seemed it was ok, but now they are back
In even larger amounts. They also invaded the basil as well as the miss silver crowder peas. It was bad enough with the aphids on the peas, but this is getting out of hand.

Has anyone had any experience in getting rid of these with something safe like a biological substitute

Yellow sticky traps. It doesn't get more organic than that. Since I have been using them, about 5 feet apart, no more issues with whiteflies, thrips and especially leaf miners. The flies that lay leafminer eggs are strongly attracted to the yellow color.We used to get severe infestations. I get them at Amazon, 15 in a package for about $13, and they last a whole season. You can also make your own with bright yellow colored anything and put a heavy coat of vaseline, or use tanglefoot.

kurt · September 5, 2015

In addition to the traps as mentioned via Ginger 2778 look around your yard as to a possible origin of those pests and place them there also.I had a continual presence on other soft cuticle type foliage.Then when you introduce a nice soft leaf as a mater plant they tend to migrate to easier pickins.The best result is to interrupt their life cycles.See below.In addition to the traps ladybugs,parasitic wasps will eradicate them over time.

http://www.slideshare.net/syantos123/leaf-miner

coastal bend · September 5, 2015

i would use the BT spinosad it will get ride of them.

September 5, 2015

I think the yellow sticky traps are better than any spray because you would have to time apraying to get the flies. once the eggs are laid it is too late.

ginger2778 · September 6, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoParrott

I think the yellow sticky traps are better than any spray because you would have to time apraying to get the flies. once the eggs are laid it is too late.

Very true. Once the leafminers are inside the leaf, the spray can't reach them.

coastal bend · September 6, 2015

University of Maryland, College Park
Spinosad has limited translaminar activity, meaning it can move somewhat into leaf tissue. This makes it effective against leafminers that feed within leaves.

September 4, 2015	#1
gregory Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: mobile zone 8 Posts: 83	Leaf miners They hit my fall tomatoes soon as I transplanted them in early July. I pulled off all the bad leafs, and it seemed it was ok, but now they are back In even larger amounts. They also invaded the basil as well as the miss silver crowder peas. It was bad enough with the aphids on the peas, but this is getting out of hand. Has anyone had any experience in getting rid of these with something safe like a biological substitute __________________ Zone 8 Mobile AL

September 5, 2015	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,491	In addition to the traps as mentioned via Ginger 2778 look around your yard as to a possible origin of those pests and place them there also.I had a continual presence on other soft cuticle type foliage.Then when you introduce a nice soft leaf as a mater plant they tend to migrate to easier pickins.The best result is to interrupt their life cycles.See below.In addition to the traps ladybugs,parasitic wasps will eradicate them over time. http://www.slideshare.net/syantos123/leaf-miner __________________ KURT Last edited by kurt; September 5, 2015 at 08:32 AM.

September 5, 2015	#4
coastal bend Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: south texas Posts: 114	i would use the BT spinosad it will get ride of them.

September 5, 2015	#5
JoParrott Guest Posts: n/a	I think the yellow sticky traps are better than any spray because you would have to time apraying to get the flies. once the eggs are laid it is too late.

September 6, 2015	#7
coastal bend Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: south texas Posts: 114	University of Maryland, College Park Spinosad has limited translaminar activity, meaning it can move somewhat into leaf tissue. This makes it effective against leafminers that feed within leaves.