???? ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) !!! ( photo / image / picture from KK Ng's Garden ) I have no idea what is this? Is it caused by some insects? It usually happen on leafy veggies and beans. The above two photos are brassica and "mini-bok choi". I had spend lots of time trying to catch the culprit and even examining the leaves top and bottom with magnifying glass but nothing. Does anyone know what it is?
This is leaf miner damage, the pest lives inside the leaf. This makes it hard to kill. Pinch off the damaged leaf and keep your plants covered, securely to the ground so no flies can enter in. The only way to kill them after your plant is infected, is with a systemic insecticide. Since you will be eating the crop you can't control it this way.
Carolyn is right it is leaf miner damage. We get the little pests here too and they can be difficult to get rid of if you're an organic gardener like me. Good luck with eradicating them.
Thanks Carolyn, this is really new for me even though the problem is old. Yes I am an organic gardener too Eileen. OK I have not done anything but I intent to keep an eye on it and see if it is spreading. If it is, I guess the only logical thing to do is to pinch of the leaves like Carloyn said. Wish me luck!!
While on a tour at Walt Disney World I had a chance to observe their research efforts into controlling leaf miners biologically using the parasite, Opius dissitus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). The non-parasitoid solution for the average gardener suggested by their researcher was the removal of all leaves invaded by the leaf miners. I tried this last year for some Columbine when I noticed an infestation early enough and was able to save the plant. The neighboring plants were unaffected. Jerry Leaf Miner Research 1 ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden ) Leaf Miner Research 2 ( photo / image / picture from Jerry Sullivan's Garden )
While watering my Angel Trumpet, I noticed the same things as that are on KKs plant! I never would have known it was a pest without having read about it here. I immediately plucked off the the affected leaves and went to check on the rest of the flowers. Thanks everyone! You probably just saved one of my prize flowers!
