Leafminer

Found worldwide in gardens, greenhouses, and agricultural fields where host plants like succulents, vegetables, and ornamentals grow.

Larvae feed on the internal parenchyma tissue of leaves, creating winding tunnels or 'mines'; adults feed on plant sap.

Adult females puncture leaves to lay eggs; upon hatching, the larvae tunnel through the leaf layers. They eventually emerge to pupate in the soil or on the leaf surface.

Risks: Causes aesthetic damage and can reduce plant vigor or photosynthetic capacity if infestation is heavy. Benefits: Serve as a food source for many species of parasitic wasps which help control their population naturally.