
Community identification
Tomato leafminer (likely)
Liriomyza spp.
- Order & Family
- Diptera; Agromyzidae
- Size
- Adults are about 1.5–2.5 mm long; the winding leaf mines are typically less than 1 mm wide.
Natural Habitat
Larvae mine leaves of tomatoes and other vegetable, ornamental, and weedy plants; adults occur around cultivated gardens and fields.
Diet & Feeding
Larvae feed within leaf tissue, creating pale, winding mines. Adults feed on plant juices and may puncture leaves to lay eggs or feed.
Behavior Patterns
Females puncture leaves and deposit eggs; larvae tunnel between leaf surfaces, then exit to pupate in soil or on foliage. Several generations can occur during warm weather.
Risks & Benefits
Heavy infestations reduce photosynthesis, stunt young plants, and can cause leaf drop, though established plants often tolerate light damage. They are not dangerous to humans; beneficial parasitoid wasps commonly help control them.