Species:
 
Liriomyza trifolii (Burgees, 1880)
   
Common name:
 
American serpentine leafminer
   
Serpentine leaf miner
   
Chrysanthemum leaf miner
   
American clover miner
   
gram pod borer
   
Damaging stage:
 
Larvae
   
Crops Affected:
 
Cucurbits, solanaceous, legumes, brassicas, onion
   
Characteristic Damage:
 
Larval feeding causes characteristic tunnels/ irregular mining patterns that enlarge as the larvae mature.
   
Mining reduces the photosynthetic capacity of the leaves.
   
Severe mining causes premature dropping of leaves.
   
Management and Control:
 
Monitor the area regularly.
   
Use yellow sticky traps to reduce adult leaf miner.
   
Remove and dispose properly heavily infested leaves.
   
Cultivate the soil by plowing and harrowing and use plastic mulch to minimize pupation in the soil.
   
Use of natural enemies like parasitic wasps from the families Braconidae, Eulophidae, and Pteromalidae can keep leaf miner population below economic threshold level.
   
Apply insecticides like buprofesin, lambda-Cyhalothrin (BidaⓇ, KarateⓇ, DescarteⓇ),  acephate (e.g. Acetam®, BlackhawkⓇ), dimethoate (e.g. Perfecthion®)  when necessary.
   
References:
http://www.cabi.org/isc/datasheet/30965
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/veg/leaf/a_serpentine_leafminer.htm
http://www.extento.hawaii.edu/kbase/crop/type/liriom_t.htm

 

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