Life cycle of leaf miners

Koppert Foundation
2 years ago
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There are many leaf miner species affecting various crops. Problems with leaf miner have increased as a result of the use of pesticides: natural enemies are killed, allowing leaf miner populations to erupt into serious numbers. Adult leaf miners are yellow and black coloured flies, at most only several millimeters long. The adult female lays eggs by making holes in the leave, known as egg spots, by using her toothed ovipositor. Often no eggs are laid in these holes, but the plant exuding sap is consumed. These holes are known as feeding spots. Leaf miners also feed on nectar from flowers and honeydew. When the larva hatches from the egg, it right away starts to eat its way into the leaf. They tunnel down into the mesophyll tissue where damage is caused by extensive mines. The outer layers of the leaf and stalk stay intact. These mines lead to cosmetic damage, leaves drying out or even early defoliation. This can affect the yield. Indirect damage occurs when fungi or bacteria enter the feeding areas. Before pupating the grown larva cuts a sickle-shaped exit hole in the leaf with its mouthparts. The larva crawls out of the leaf, falls onto the ground and will pupate in the soil. An adult leaf miner will emerge from the pupa. Within 13 days the female can lay up to 160 eggs.