INSECT ID · CHEWING PEST (LEAF TUNNELER)
Leafminers
Also called Leaf miners, leafminer damage
Tiny larvae that feed between the top and bottom of a leaf. They leave pale trails or dead-looking patches. It looks bad, but most plants shrug it off.
How to spot it
- Thin, whitish winding trails on the leaf, like a doodle
- Or a tan, papery patch where the larva has fed more
- The larva inside is tiny, about 1/16 inch, and whitish-yellow
- Tiny pale specks on the leaf from adult flies feeding
- Adults are small flies, about 1/16 inch, gray-black with some yellow
Why it shows up
Adult flies lay eggs in the leaf. The larvae hatch and feed inside, so you see the damage but rarely the bug. The trails get wider as the larva grows.
How we treat it
We do not treat leafminers as part of our lawn program. We will look at the plant on a visit and tell you what we see. The usual fix is simple. Pick off and bag the worst leaves. Most plants do fine, and we will talk through any other options with you.
What you can do
- Pick off badly marked leaves and bag them and throw them out.
- Check new plants for trails before you plant them.
- Do not worry about every squiggle. Light damage is mostly a looks problem.
WANT IT HANDLED?
Let a licensed applicator take it from here.
Tell us about your lawn. We’ll get back to you with a free quote.
Prefer to talk? 817-382-1722Licensed applicator, Texas Department of Agriculture · License #0984138