Columbine -Phytomyza spp.
Beet -Pegomya betae
Spinach -Pegomya hyoscyami

Diptera: Chloropidae and Anthomyiidae

Identification and Damage
• Leafminer larvae live between the upper and lower leaf surfaces and eat the leaf interior.
• Columbine leafminer larvae produce snake-like, white trails through the leaves. (a)
• Beet (b) and spinach leafminers produce white blotches that soon turn brown. They also attack Swiss chard.
• The seldom-seen adult is a ¹/₄" brownish fly.

Management
• Affected plants will usually thrive despite damage, so one option is to do nothing.
• Remove affected parts of leaves when harvesting vegetables.
• Remove and destroy attacked leaves early in the season to reduce later infestations.
• Cover leafy vegetables with window screening or polyester row covers to exclude adult flies and prevent damage.

Other Information
• Other leafminers occur on many other plants and may be the larvae of flies, wasps, beetles, or moths.