Key Features
- Snake like discoloration on leaves
- Blotch like discoloration on leaves
- Excrement or larvae in discoloration
Symptoms
Several species of flies, wasps and moths will lay eggs into plant leaves. Eggs will hatch into larvae that will chew between the upper and lower leaf surface. Confirm diagnosis of mines by holding leaf up to light and looking for shadows of fecal pellets or larvae feeding inside leaves. Some mines are snake-like in appearance. Others are blotch like in appearance.
Biology
Several species of flies, wasps and moths will lay eggs into plant leaves. Eggs will hatch into larvae that will chew between the upper and lower leaf surface. Most winter as pupae in the soil and emerge in spring to feed on young leaves. Some species have multiple generations.
Management Recommendations
Homeowners can apply a systemic foliar insecticide like spinosad to kill young larvae. Professionals can use other products. Soil applied neonicotinoid insecticides are not recommended because of their impact on pollinators feeding on holly flowers.
Effective Pesticides
Active Ingredients include: Abamectin, Acephate, Chlorantraniliprole, Spinosad
Resources
