Leaf Miner Control: How to Get Rid of Leaf Miners

This page is a general DIY guide on controlling leaf miner populations. Using the products and methods suggested you will get control of various types of leaf miners. Follow this DIY guide and use the recommended steps and products and we guarantee 100% control of leaf miners.

Leaf miners is a problematic pest across the United States, but most predominately seen in the southern states. This insect pest is the larvae of over 100 different species of moths, sawflies, flies, wasps, and beetles. As apparent by their name, leaf miners achieved this title by eating and traveling throughout the leaves of the plant it is infesting.

These pests can be relatively hard to get rid of once they have entered the surface of trees, shrubs, vegetable, and ornamental plants. Unfortunately, leaf miners are not specific about the type of foliage they infest or its condition. While they can attack healthy and unhealthy plants the damage they leave behind is cosmetic. No matter the case, this feeding activity can make your plant become stress leading to wilting and eventual death.

Leaf miners are an annoying pest that some homeowners do not consider immediate threats, but if left untreated then population and damages can increase. Refer to our DIY guide, which will present recommendable steps and products that will completely eradicate leaf miners.

Identification

Before you can proceed with treatment, you will need to make sure that you are dealing with a leaf miner infestation. You can identify leaf miner pests by the following characteristics.

• Leaf miners are white, brown, light green, or yellow in coloration.
• Depending on the species the bodies will either be maggot or worm shaped. They will measure less than 1/4 inches long.
• Leaf miners do not have legs or obvious head capsules.

Use the image and description above to help you properly identify leaf miners in your plants. If you need help with identification, you can send us a photo through email or visit one of our stores where our representatives can help with correct recognition and provide recommendations for control.

Inspection

Once you have properly identified and confirmed that you are encountering leaf miners, you can proceed to inspection. During the inspection, you will determine the areas this pest is infesting or the conditions allowing it to thrive.

Where to Inspect

The main location that leaf miners infest is outdoor foliage in your front and back lawn. Inspect the top and bottom of leaves within ornamental foliage, trees, shrubs, bushes, lawns, flowers, garden beds, vegetables, and fruits. Plants inside greenhouses, homes, and landscaped areas should also be examined for leaf miner activity.

What to Look For

As their name states, leaf miners are usually found by the light brown to white trails they leave behind when feeding. These trails will appear irregular or spherical in pattern. If the trails merge then this may indicate numerous leaf miners invading the plant.

Usually in the early spring to early summer these pest species will lay eggs, which will then hatch into leaf miner. Since there are numerous species with varying breeding patterns it is recommended to examine your plants for blotches or tunnel activity.

Treatment

Before beginning any insecticidal treatments, you will need to wear the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) that will protect your hands, mouth, eyes, face, feet, and skin.

These insect species have the ability to overwinter into the ground during the winter, emerging in the spring. We recommend using a long-lasting insecticide that provides residual control as leaf miners can escape into plant to escape spray applications.

Step 1: Prune Infested Leaves

Female species of pest will lay eggs on the the top surface of leaves. When warmer weather emerges, usually in spring, leaf miners will hatch and begin to feed on the plant host.

Pruning of dead and afflicted plant tissues can eliminate residing leaf miners. Since time has to pass for plant tissue to become discolored this step should not be performed alone. If not used in accordance with insecticide then you risk population increase.

Step 2: Treat Yard with Supreme IT

Supreme IT is a liquid insecticide that eliminates over 70 types of insects, including leaf miners from lawns, ornamental foliage, and other types of terrain. This easy to use product will leave a residual barrier against leaf miners for up to 90 days.

This product may be applied with a backpack sprayer, hand-held sprayer, or hose-end sprayer. We recommend using a hose-end sprayer for large broadcast applications since leaf miners are not particular about foliage types.

Measure the square footage of the treatment area to determine how much Supreme IT to use. To find this, measure the length and width of the treatment site in feet and multiply together (length X width = square footage). To eliminate leaf miners, use 0.5 to 1.0 oz. of Supreme IT per gallon of water per 1,000 sq. ft.

Pour the measured amount of Supreme IT into the hose-end sprayer tank, be sure not to add water. Attach the filled hose-tank to the end of your garden hose and twist until secure. Spray the appropriate amount of water until solution is evenly mixed.

On a low-pressure spray, apply the solution to the top and bottom of foliage leaves and stems until wet, but not to the point of run-off. Retreat when 90 days have passed after first application.

Prevention

After leaf miners have been eliminated, you will need to carry out preventative measures to ensure they do not return.

• Protect your plants and its surrounding soil with appropriate plant covering during the winter season. By doing this, adult leaf miners will be unable to lay their eggs or breed.
• Rake and dethatch lawn of fallen leaves, branches, grass clippings, and other debris.
• Make sure to mow grass when it reaches a height of 3 inches to prevent leaf miners from being attracted to your property. This includes pruning overgrow tree, shrub, and ornamental plant branches and stems.
• Keep watering your plants with no more than an inch of irrigation to enable foliage growth and repair past leaf miner damage.
• Reapply Supreme IT once 90 days have passed and a month prior to the spring season.

Key Takeaways

What are Leaf Miners?

• Leaf miners are the larve stage of numerous insects that feed on the top and bottom of plant leaves.

How to Get Rid of Leaf Miners

• To treat for leaf miners, you will need to remove as much afflicted plant matter and apply a long-lasting insecticide like Supreme IT.

Preventing Leaf Miners

• Prevent future infestations of leaf miners by making sure to regularly clean yard of plant debris and repeat application of Supreme IT prior to spring.