| leafminers.just planted tomatoes 2 weeks ago and have leafminers.How do I rid my plant of them Now. |
| A flylike critter lays her eggs on or just beneath the upper part of a leaf. As the eggs hatch they turn into little larvae who feed on the tissues between the upper and lower parts of the leaf. When they have fed enough they make an exit hole, spin a little web and fall down into the soil to pupate. Then they fly away as adults. No pesticides will reach the little larvae but you can squish them by pinching the leaf. And you can scratch around in the soil beneath the plants to expose them to sunshine and predatory insects. Leave the foliage on the plants - they may look unsightly but as long as they are still green they are doing their jobs and providing carbohydrates to the roots of the plants. Best wishes with your tomatoes. |
