Honeysuckle Pests: Leaf Miners

Many leafminer species can infect honeysuckle.

Leafminers are the larvae of flies, beetles, moths or sawflies that tunnel between leaf surfaces, causing localized damage, according to The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension.

Identification

Common leafminer species include boxwood, hawthorne, oak, birch and holly leafminer. They range in length from 1/10 inch to 1/4 inch when full-grown, according to the University of Illinois Integrated Pest Management. Larvae hatch early during the growing season; however, identifying larvae is difficult due to their size. Small squiggly lines throughout the leaf surface identify leafminer infestations.

Symptoms

Leafminers on honeysuckle rarely cause more than localized damage, but they can damage the plant's appearance. Symptoms consist of yellowing leaves, premature leaf drop, dead twigs and reduced vigor, according to the University of Illinois Integrated Pest Management. However, severe infections can cause plant death.

Control

Minor infections rarely cause substantial damage and warrant no control. However, continuous annual or severe infections require control. Control consists of pruning and destroying infected branches and chemical control early in the season before the leafminer larvae mature, according to the University of Florida IFAS Extension.

References

• The University of Georgia Cooperative Extension: Leafminers on Ornamentals
• University of Illinois Integrated Pest Management: Leafminers
• University of Florida IFAS Extension: Leafminers on Ornamental Plants