The beet leafminer is very similar to the common house fly. Larvae of this fly eat the chlorophyll between the veins of the leaves.
Also known as:
Spinach leafminer
Beet leafminer (Pegomya hyoscyami) is very similar to the common housefly. Larvae of this fly eat the chlorophyll between the veins of the leaves, sometimes blisters appear on the leaf, after which the leaf withers. Sometimes the damage is limited to a few leaf mines. The larva then looks for another, still green leaf. Especially with a leafy vegetable such as spinach, larvae can do great damage. The pupa of the beet leafminer overwinters underground; in spring (April, May) the flies hatch. These lay eggs neatly in rows on the underside of leaves. After a few days, the larvae hatch and penetrate the leaves. The larvae can grow to a size of six mm. In summer, the larvae move to the ground where they pupate.
Control
Difficult to to control; once infested, recovery is not possible.
Prevention
Crop rotation helps prevent infestation by beet leafminer larvae. Remove goosefoot and saltbush (host plants) in the immediate area.
