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How to control tomato leaf miner?

The Liriomyza bryoniae, known as the tomato leaf miner, poses a significant threat to crops such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, melons, gerberas, and chrysanthemums. These pests tunnel through the leaves, compromising the plant's stability, causing dehydration, leaf drop, and decreased productivity. Young plants are particularly vulnerable, as the tomato leaf miner can be fatal to them. In floriculture, this pest diminishes the ornamental value of plants by affecting their leaves. In this article, we discuss how to detect and control tomato leaf miner.
Tomato leaf miner
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | July 12, 2023 | 2 min. reading time

Detection of leaf miner

The tomato leaf miner undergoes six stages of development: egg, three larval stages, pupa, and adult. The duration of the egg-to-adult cycle varies between 15 and 40 days, depending on ambient temperature and the host plant. Female tomato leaf miners create small punctures on the plant, often on the upper surface of the leaves, for egg deposition or to feed on plant sap.

The eggs are white, and white larvae emerge from them. In the initial phase, it is easy to differentiate the larva of the tomato leaf miner from the yellow-colored larva of the Florida leaf miner. The larva burrows tunnels into the leaves, which expand as the larva grows and progresses to the next larval stage. When the tomato leaf miner larva has consumed enough, it creates an exit hole on the underside of the leaf, through which it drops to the ground. The larva hides and undergoes pupation in this location. The color of the pupae varies from yellow to dark brown.

The tomato leaf miner that emerges from the pupa is yellow with black markings and is almost impossible to distinguish from the Florida leaf miner and the nerf leaf miner. The length of a tomato leaf miner varies from 1.5 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters. The females are usually larger than the males.

Tomato leaf miner control

Tomato leaf miner control can be done in different ways. First of all, it is important to keep the chances of it entering and quantities to a minimum. Good hygiene in the greenhouse is important for this, as well as the timely removal of weeds. Insect netting in the air vents also contributes to a reduced number of tomato leaf miners in the greenhouse.
Natural enemies of the tomato leaf miner are the parasitic wasps Diglyphus and Dacnusa and predatory bugs. Adult flies can also be caught by using signaling rolls and sticky traps.
 
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Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Also interesting for you

How to control tomato leaf miner?

The Liriomyza bryoniae, known as the tomato leaf miner, poses a significant threat to crops such as tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, melons, gerberas, and chrysanthemums. These pests tunnel through the leaves, compromising the plant's stability, causing dehydration, leaf drop, and decreased productivity. Young plants are particularly vulnerable, as the tomato leaf miner can be fatal to them. In floriculture, this pest diminishes the ornamental value of plants by affecting their leaves. In this article, we discuss how to detect and control tomato leaf miner.
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Jan-Paul de Wit, product specialist integrated pest management
Jan-Paul de Wit
Product specialist Crop Protection | July 12, 2023 | 2 min. reading time
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Tomato leaf miner

Detection of leaf miner

The tomato leaf miner undergoes six stages of development: egg, three larval stages, pupa, and adult. The duration of the egg-to-adult cycle varies between 15 and 40 days, depending on ambient temperature and the host plant. Female tomato leaf miners create small punctures on the plant, often on the upper surface of the leaves, for egg deposition or to feed on plant sap.

The eggs are white, and white larvae emerge from them. In the initial phase, it is easy to differentiate the larva of the tomato leaf miner from the yellow-colored larva of the Florida leaf miner. The larva burrows tunnels into the leaves, which expand as the larva grows and progresses to the next larval stage. When the tomato leaf miner larva has consumed enough, it creates an exit hole on the underside of the leaf, through which it drops to the ground. The larva hides and undergoes pupation in this location. The color of the pupae varies from yellow to dark brown.

The tomato leaf miner that emerges from the pupa is yellow with black markings and is almost impossible to distinguish from the Florida leaf miner and the nerf leaf miner. The length of a tomato leaf miner varies from 1.5 millimeters to 2.5 millimeters. The females are usually larger than the males.

Tomato leaf miner control

Tomato leaf miner control can be done in different ways. First of all, it is important to keep the chances of it entering and quantities to a minimum. Good hygiene in the greenhouse is important for this, as well as the timely removal of weeds. Insect netting in the air vents also contributes to a reduced number of tomato leaf miners in the greenhouse.
Natural enemies of the tomato leaf miner are the parasitic wasps Diglyphus and Dacnusa and predatory bugs. Adult flies can also be caught by using signaling rolls and sticky traps.
 
Contact form
Can't find your answer? Fill out the contact form and our specialist Jan-Paul de Wit will get back to you. On weekdays, even within 24 hours.
Jan-Paul de Wit, product specialist integrated pest management
Also interesting for you
How do you control leaf miner?
Leaf miner is found in vegetable- and ornamental cultivation. The most common species of leaf miner are Florida leaf miner (Liriomyza trifolii), Pea leaf miner (Liriomyza huidobrensis) and the Tomato leaf miner (Liriomyza bryoniae).
How to use sticky traps, detect insects and monitor pest control in greenhouses?
Detecting insects in crops is crucial for prompt pest control. By monitoring pests with sticky traps, you can assess the effectiveness of your chosen control strategy.
Tips for the usage of natural enemies
Regarding biological crop protection you are dealing with a living product. Its use is different from that with the application of chemical pesticides.