Description
Leaf miners are larvae of a variety of insects including flies, moths, beetles and sawflies. These insects either inject an egg into the leaf surface or lay an egg on the surface. Once the egg hatches the tiny larvae burrow into the leaf and start feeding. The larvae live and feed within the interior layer of a leaf, creating white tunnels or mines as they feed. Leaf miners are considered a minor pest for established native trees but may cause significant aesthetic damage in a nursery.
Common native plant hosts
| Scientific names | Māori/common names |
|---|---|
| Agathis australis | Kauri |
| Astelia spp. | Astelia, kakaha, shore kōwharawhara |
| Clianthus | Kākābeak |
| Coprosma spp. | Shiny karamu, twiggy coprosma, taupata, mikimiki, kanono, manono |
| Lophozonia menziesii | Silver beech |
| Melicytus spp. | Māhoe, hinahina, whiteywood |
| Olearia spp. | Golden akeake, akiraho, tree daisy |
| Pseudopanax ferox, Pseudopanax crassifolius | Lancewood, horoeka, fierce lancewood, savage lancewood |
| Veronica spp. | Hebe |
Scientific names
Agathis australis
Māori/common names
Kauri
Scientific names
Astelia spp.
Māori/common names
Astelia, kakaha, shore kōwharawhara
Scientific names
Clianthus
Māori/common names
Kākābeak
Scientific names
Coprosma spp.
Māori/common names
Shiny karamu, twiggy coprosma, taupata, mikimiki,
kanono, manono
kanono, manono
Scientific names
Lophozonia menziesii
Māori/common names
Silver beech
Scientific names
Melicytus spp.
Māori/common names
Māhoe, hinahina, whiteywood
Scientific names
Olearia spp.
Māori/common names
Golden akeake, akiraho, tree daisy
Scientific names
Pseudopanax ferox, Pseudopanax crassifolius
Māori/common names
Lancewood, horoeka, fierce lancewood, savage
lancewood
lancewood
Scientific names
Veronica spp.
Māori/common names
Hebe
Symptoms and damage
- Damage is mainly aesthetic and unlikely to be serious – control may not be required.
- Linear mines in leaves or leaf mine blotch caused by larvae feeding.
- Leaf curling and mottling.
Prevention and control tips
- Biological control organisms.
- Chemical insecticides.
- Neem.
Natural predators
- Lacewings.
- Parasitic wasps.