Spinich Leafminer- Identification and Management
The spinach leafminer (Pegomya hyoscyami) is a common pest that causes unsightly leaf blisters and necrosis of spinach, beets, chards and host weeds like lambsquaters, nightshade, chickweed and plantain. Marketability of the leaf crops is significantly impacted. This is the case for beet greens and bunched beets.
The adult fly appears in early to mid- May after overwintering in the soil as pupae. It is a about 5 mm long and are gray in color. The adults can be seen flying near the ground between the plants. The females deposit eggs singly or in rows of two to five side by side on the underside of the leaves. In as little as three days but more commonly in four to six days the tiny legless, white to yellowish maggots hatch from the eggs and work their way into the leaf tissue. The maggots feed between the upper and lower leaf surfaces of the host plants mining out the tissue in between. It is not unusual for several larvae to be in the same leaf. As the maggot grows and continues to feed, the mines, which are at first thread-like, become blotch-like and are easily seen on the infected leaves. The larvae are full-grown in 7 to 16 days when they drop to the ground and burrow a few inches into the soil to pupate. Two to four weeks later the adult flies emerge and will soon lay eggs for another generation. In New York you can expect three to four generations each year.
Management- a preventive spray schedule beginning when the spinach is two true leaves and repeated every 7 days. Remove wild hosts like lambsquarter, nightshades, chickweed, and plantain. Deep plowing in the spring can reduce the overwintering population by burying existing pupae. In smaller stands, infected leaves can be picked before the maggots drop to the ground. Removing and destroying these infected leaves can lessen the leafminer pressure
-Ray Range
Upcoming Events
What is my vine trying to tell me?
May 15, 2024 : What is my vine trying to tell me?
Plattsburgh, NY
Are your grapevines showing signs of discoloration or stunted growth? Don't ignore these warning signs! Join us on May 15th at the Clinton County CCE office to learn about the essential nutrients that grapevines require to thrive, identify the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, and how to fix them. Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your grapevine cultivation skills! Attendance is free, but registration is required.
How man's best friend can help find Spotted Lanternfly
May 21, 2024
Millbrook, NY
Come and join us at the Dutchess County CCE office on May 21st for a special demonstration by Jennifer Fimbel, the Agriculture and Horticulture Program Leader with Dutchess County CCE. You will get to see her SLF K9 Cole in action as they demonstrate how man's best friend can be used to detect the Spotted Lanternfly. Attendance is free, but registration is required
What is my vine trying to tell me?
May 22, 2024 : What is my vine trying to tell me?
Greenwich, NY
Are your grapevines showing signs of discoloration or stunted growth? Don't ignore these warning signs! Join us on May 22nd at the Washington County Fair Grounds to learn about the essential nutrients that grapevines require to thrive, identify the symptoms of nutrient deficiencies, and how to fix them. Don't miss out on this opportunity to improve your grapevine cultivation skills! Attendance is free, but registration is required.