Something is eating my leaves

[AXJ]

Hi all,

I have looked all over for a solution to this before posting here. I have leaves on all varieties of plants which appear to have some kind of bug which has burrowed along sucking out all the green flesh, leaving a trail, not unlike a minuature snail trail in shape (but not a slime trail).

On one leaf I found what looked like a small light bown grub at the head of a trail, about 2.5mm and long 1.2mm wide, which made a pleasing tiny crunch when thumbnail and forefinger were applied.

So if you can imagine, a random trail around leaves leaving a light brown to white colour as all the clorofil has been eaten. I have seen some small black flies knocking about, but they seem almost too small to be the product of this grub.

Once idenified, what is the recommended exterminator, remembering that none of these plants are going to fruit or flower for months... and I want these things gone. (There is a regular head-lice epidemic here, it is a merry-go-round with the school, so much pesticide has been used to get rid of the lice, worring about a bit more on a few plants is futile!!)

thanks in advance.

[red]

sounds like a leaf miner

I think squishing them is the only non nasty chemical way,.
but usually the plants cope with a few..

[MKG]

I agree - leaf miner of one form or another. You're already halfway home by squishing them, but affected leaves also need to be destroyed.

The only other organic solution is parasitic wasps, but I don't know if they're available in Spain.

[AXJ]

sounds like a leaf miner

I think squishing them is the only non nasty chemical way,.
but usually the plants cope with a few..

Yep that looks like it alright, I found this image online which is very close to it, although my pest does not seem to leave the centre line, I have found the odd minuature dead moth near my indoor plants.



Okay, I know it may not be considered the done thing, but I want to nuke these b*stds... any recommendations?

[MKG]

Methiocarb

[AXJ]

thanks MKG, that is what I shall use, I assume one has to spray the plants all over?

Plants affected
A wide range of vegetable crops growing indoors or outdoors, especially tomatoes and peppers.

Just my luck, just what I am growing !! LoL, no one said it would be easy

[MKG]

Oh - food. You shouldn't spray food plants with methiocarb (stupid of me on a site like this not to have thought they would be food) because it does get taken into the plant tissues. Back to the drawing board ...

[AXJ]

Ho no... nevermind. I just did a search for methiocarb, and it is a popular poison for dogs and other urban pests.

It is just as well you called that one in, as (no word of a lie I swear) over the bank holiday weekend someone locally has been killing dogs by leaving poison bait. Six dead with the symptons of methiocarb popisoning.

Okay, dog poo is an issue here, and there are far to many big dogs for an urban environment, the old chavvy status symbol problem. No-one obeys the law and keeps their pooches under-control, so someone took it into their own hands to get people to control their hounds.

Having said that, can you imagine the raised eyebrows as I go to my local chemist and ask for what is effectively dog poison of choice... cripes that was close!!!

Thanks for the tip though

Meanwhile the leafminers.....

[MKG]

Just found this which might help you

http://www.hdc.org.uk/herbs/page.asp?id=9

[AXJ]

Thanks very much, that has just about everything I need to know... for the time being it's squish and clip...

[AXJ]

hi me again.

I got rid of the leaf miners, with a combination of pick squish and a squirt of domestic fly spray in the room where the victims inhabit. I use my self space as well as the balcony and window box....

NOW... I have little flies, and a seathing mass of tiny white maggotty looking things living in the spoil. They really make my flesh creep. About 1.5mm long max and very thin, and white. The soil was sterile potting compost, it sure is not any more. You see these little things moving about, and if I dig a little under the soil there are more and more of them.

Yeeew... the idea of repotting these plants with that lot as a welcoming committee is not pleasant, any suggestions as to what they are? I see no damage to the leaves at this time.

[AXJ]

Fungus gnat maggots are white, worm-like larvae that are about 1/4 inch long when mature. They feed on decaying matter and fine root systems in soil. Wilting or an unhealthy appearance of the plant may become evident during a heavy infestation. Adult fungus gnats ( Figure 7 ) may be seen crawling on the soil surface or flying around windows before severe plant damage occurs.

I think this may be the mature vertion of the blighter, now how do I kill it?

[MKG]

a) Stop over-watering your plants (oh no, I'm not ... oh yes, you are )

b) Sticky fly papers to catch the buggers as they emerge as adults.

c) if your fly-spray is pyrethrum based (at the risk of annoying the greener amongst us) soak the top of the pot contents with it and water it in (thereby contradicting my point a)).

You've had two out of three - next, it's an infestation of Purple People Eaters!

[AXJ]

Sitting here kind answering my own questions, seems that the fungus gnat goes by another name in Britain.

B3 - Sciarid flies
Introduction
Sciarid flies, also known as fungus gnats, can be serious pests of herbs. The larvae damage the roots of young plants, leading to poor vigour, wilting and even death. Adult sciarid flies can also carry important fungal pathogens e.g. Pythium. Sciarids are often present as secondary pests on plants affected by root disease, the larvae feeding on the rotting plant tissue and fungi. The presence of the flies on plants at marketing can cause crop rejections by supermarkets.

http://www.hdc.org.uk/herbs/page.asp?id=4

BIG thanks to MKG for the previous link...

[AXJ]

a) Stop over-watering your plants (oh no, I'm not ... oh yes, you are )

b) Sticky fly papers to catch the buggers as they emerge as adults.

c) if your fly-spray is pyrethrum based (at the risk of annoying the greener amongst us) soak the top of the pot contents with it and water it in (thereby contradicting my point a)).

You've had two out of three - next, it's an infestation of Purple People Eaters!

Yes I guess that I have given them a bit too much water given that these little b*stds like water. Thanks for the post, we crossed so to speak.