Chemical management of leafminer
Leafminers are difficult to control because the female fly lays eggs below the leaf surface. It means that the larvae develop inside the leaf, where they cannot be reached by insecticides that depend on contact. It is important to target larvae for control as they cause the most damage. They are also more susceptible to insecticides than eggs and less mobile than adults.
When using chemicals, consider the impact on beneficials. Native parasitic wasps have been proven to be highly effective for control of leafminer.
Worldwide, serpentine leafminer (SLM) and its related species have been reported resistant to many insecticides including group 1A & 1B organophosphates / carbamates, group 3A & 3B pyrethroids / DDT, group 17 cyromazine, group 6 avermectin and group 5 spinosyns. NSW DPI has used DNA based technology to test Australian invasive SLM quickly for resistance.
Resistance causing genes associated with organophosphate / carbamate (group 1A & 1B) and super pyrethroid (group 3A) resistance have been detected the NSW population. It is not yet known how widespread the resistance is, but clearly resistance causing genes has potentially significant consequences for effective field control of Australian SLM populations. To be cautious, we consider the use of such chemistries best avoided. If chemicals from groups 1 or 3 are to be used against SLM, always rotate to a different group for subsequent sprays and critically, never reapply the same chemical following a failure.
Particularly when using systemic insecticides, it is important to observe withholding periods to ensure that residues comply with established standards.
The table provides a list of permits approved by the Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA), to allow management of leafminers in some crops. The list below will be updated as more permits or registered products become available.
Note: many permits are approved for crop groups (e.g. leafy vegetables or bulb vegetables). Specific crops covered by each crop group description can be checked at https://apvma.gov.au/crop-groups
H = harvest G = grazing
Crop | Permit number or registration | Chemicals | Harvest withholding period (days) | Mode of Action Group |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Beetroot | Registration for leafmining fly | Dimethoate (eg Katar Insecticide and others) | 14 | 1B Organophosphates |
Bulb onions | Cyantraniliprole Abamectin | 7 30 | 28 Diamides 6 Avermectins | |
Bulb vegetables except bulb onions (incl. leeks, spring onions) | Cyantraniliprole Abamectin | 7 14 | 28 Diamides 6 Avermectins | |
Brassica Vegetables (including broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower) | Emamectin (suppression only) | 3 | 6 Avermectin | |
Broccoli (Field and protected) | Cyromazine Emamectin (suppression only) | 7 3 | 17 Cyromazine 6 Avermectin | |
Cabbage (head) | Abamectin | 7 | 6 Avermectins | |
Capsicums | Cyantraniliprole Spirotetramat (suppression only) Cyromazine | 1 1 7 | 28 Diamides 23 Tetronic 17 Cyromazine | |
Celery | Spirotetramat (suppression only) Abamectin Cyromazine | 3 7 7 | 23 Tetronic 6 Avermectins 17 Cyromazine | |
Chillies | Cyantraniliprole Spirotetramat (suppression only) Cyromazine | 1 1 7 | 28 Diamides 23 Tetronic 17 Cyromazine | |
Eggplant | Cyantraniliprole Spirotetramat (suppression only) Cyromazine | 1 1 7 | 28 Diamides 23 Tetronic 17 Cyromazine | |
Fruit trees (non-bearing) | Cyromazine | NA | 17 Cyromazine | |
Fruiting vegetables – cucurbits | Cyantraniliprole Cyromazine Abamectin | 1 7 7 | 28 Diamides 17 Cyromazine 6 Avermectins | |
Fruiting vegetables other than cucurbits (except sweet corn and mushrooms) | Cyantraniliprole Abamectin Cyromazine | 1 7 7 | 28 Diamides 6 Avermectins 17 Cyromazine | |
Green beans | Spirotetramat (suppression only) Cyromazine Abamectin Spinetoram | H7 G7 7 7 H3 G14 | 23 Tetronic 17 Cyromazine 6 Avermectins 5 Spinosyns | |
Leafy vegetables (except lettuce) | Abamectin | 14 | 6 Avermectins | |
Legume vegetables | Cyromazine Abamectin | 7 7 | 17 Cyromazine 6 Avermectins | |
Lettuce (head and leafy) | Spirotetramat (suppression only) | 1 | 23 Tetronic | |
Lettuce – head lettuce only | Cyromazine | 7 | 17 Cyromazine | |
Macadamia | Registration for leafminer | Acephate (eg IA acephate 970 SG and others) | Not required when used as directed | 1B Organophosphates |
Nursery stock (non-food) | Abamectin Azadirachtin Cyromazine Emamectin (suppression only) Chlorantraniliprole & Thiamethoxam Cyantraniliprole Indoxacarb Spinetoram | NA | 6 Avermectins UN Unknown 17 Cyromazines 6 Avermectins 28 Diamides & 4A Neonicotinoids 28 Diamides 22A Oxadiazines 5 Spinosyns | |
Imidacloprid Bifenthrin Bifenthrin Bifenthrin Cyromazine | NA NA NA NA NA | 4A Neonicotinoids 3A Pyrethroids 3A Pyrethroids 3A Pyrethroids 17 Cyromazines | ||
Ornamental shrubs and ornamental farm and forest trees | Registration for leafminer | Dimethoate (eg Katar Insecticide and others) | NA | 1B Organophosphates |
Parsley (field & protected) | Spirotetramat (suppression only) | 3 | 23 Tetronic | |
Potato | Cyromazine Cyantraniliprole Abamectin | 7 7 14 | 17 Cyromazine 28 Diamides 6 Avermectins | |
Pulses | Dimethoate | H14 G14 | 1B Organophosphate | |
Rhubarb (field) | Spirotetramat (suppression only) Abamectin Cyromazine | 3 7 7 | 23 Tetronic 6 Avermectins 17 Cyromazine | |
Root and tuber vegetables | Cyromazine Abamectin | 7 14 | 17 Cyromazine 6 Avermectins | |
Rice | Registration for leaf miner | Trichlorfon (eg Tyranex 500 SL and others) | 2 | 1B Organophosphate |
Snow peas and Sugar snap peas | Spirotetramat (suppression only) Spinetoram Abamectin Cyromazine | H3 G3 H3 G14 7 7 | 23 Tetronic 5 Spinosyns 6 Avermectins 17 Cyromazine | |
Spinach and Silverbeet | Chlorantraniliprole Abamectin | 3 14 | 28 Diamides 6 Avermectins | |
Stalk and stem vegetables | Cyromazine | 7 | 17 Cyromazine | |
Tomatoes | Cyantraniliprole Spirotetramat (suppression only) Abamectin | 1 1 7 | 28 Diamides 23 Tetronic 6 Avermectins |
