Vegetable Leafminer, Liriomyza sativae Blanchard (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Vegetable leafminer is found commonly in southern North America, and in most of Central and South America. Occasionally it is reported in more northern areas because it is transported with plant material. It cannot survive cold areas except in greenhouses.

Host Plants

Vegetable leafminer attacks a large number of plants, but seems to favor those in the plant families Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, and Solanaceae. Nearly 40 hosts from 10 plant families are known in Florida. Among the numerous weeds infested, the nightshade, Solanum americanum; and Spanishneedles, Bidens alba; are especially suitable hosts in Florida. Vegetable crops known as hosts include bean, celery, eggplant, onions, pepper, potato, squash, tomato, watermelon, cucumber, beet, pea, lettuce and many other composites. Vegetable leafminer was formerly considered to be the most important agromyzid pest in North America, but this distinction is now held by American leafminer, L. trifolii.

Natural Enemies

Vegetable leafminer...