Leaf Miners are killing me!!!

[edweather]

Originally Posted by Togo77

What concentration do you use?
How often do you spray?

I use two tablespoons per gallon of water in a pump sprayer. Just started a few days ago, and we had a heavy downpour last night. I was thinking of reapplying, and then maybe once a week or so. Am also using Daconil once in a while to keep ahead of any blight.

I know I can get DE locally. Might keep an eye out for Spinosad. Looks like most of the damage is done, and hopefully I can interrupt their life cycle. Am seeing a few flies from the larvae.

Can DE be applied by mixing with water and sprayed on? I've seen that 4 tbsp per gallon might work.

[gdaddybill]

Pretty sure I saw an Imidacloprid label that included tomatoes. It's a soil systemic and the waiting period may have been fairly long. Fortunately some systemics aren't translocated to the fruit. I can understand folks being a bit reluctant to use them on vegetables.

[gdaddybill]

Thought I'd better check the label. It was a Dominion Fruit Tree & Vegetable spray and it does include fruiting vegetables but you have to wait 21 days after application before harvesting and you can only use it once per year. Eggplant, peppers, tomatoes and tomatillos are some of the fruiting vegetables included. They also have an ornamental tree labeled product and though they include the same active ingredient you have to follow the label so don't be tempted to extrapolate. My biggest concern is intercropping which I do a lot of. It's often impossible to keep roots from say a leafy vegetable growing close by, from taking up some of the systemic insecticide. It's imperative that only roots of vegetables included on the label have access to the treated soil! Caution advised!

[heirloomtomaguy]

Went out to prune this morning and found a great example of what happens to a caterpillar or other leaf eating bug when they eat a leaf sprayed with Spinosad. The caterpillar is the shriveled up brown piece on the leaf. Another win for me on this one.

[Country Breeze]

Neem oil must be pure/cold pressed. The neem oil sold at most box stores does not work because the pesticide (azadirachtin) has been taken out. Neem oil is the best control I have found for leaf miners.

I'm sure Spinosad works well to and may be the better option if you cannot find pure neem oil.

DE does not work when wet, and will only work if it makes contact when dry. Will also kill beneficial insects and good stuff in the soil. Neem only kills problem insects that ingest it.

[edweather]

I bought the Garden Safe neem oil from Lowe's, and will be returning it tomorrow. I just purchased some 100% Pure Neem Oil cold pressed organic.

[Togo77]

Originally Posted by Country Breeze

Neem oil must be pure/cold pressed. The neem oil sold at most box stores does not work because the pesticide (azadirachtin) has been taken out. Neem oil is the best control I have found for leaf miners.

I'm sure Spinosad works well to and may be the better option if you cannot find pure neem oil.

DE does not work when wet, and will only work if it makes contact when dry. Will also kill beneficial insects and good stuff in the soil. Neem only kills problem insects that ingest it.

What percentage neem oilare you using?

[edweather]

I haven't used the 100% stuff yet, but have seen suggested amounts of 1 1/2 TBSP per gallon of water, along with 1/2 tsp of dish soap. Does that sound ok?

[Dark Rumor]

Originally Posted by edweather

I bought the Garden Safe neem oil from Lowe's, and will be returning it tomorrow. I just purchased some 100% Pure Neem Oil cold pressed organic.

FYI
I was told by the nursery not to use need oil if temps get 85 degrees or higher.

[edweather]

Yes, I think that's for spraying it. Have done a little research, and most people spray later in the day after temps have cooled a bit, or in the morning.

[Country Breeze]

Originally Posted by Togo77

What percentage neem oilare you using?

I use 1.5-2 teaspoons of neem per quart of water. I also mix in a mild soap; I'd guess a teaspoon or so. I use Dr. Bonners, but Dawn,softsoap, etc, can work to. Different soaps need different concentrations. Add enough to break up and disperse the neem when you shake the bottle. If the neem floats back to the top of the bottle quickly, add a little more soap.

Just be sure to test spray a few leaves and wait a day or so before spraying all of your plants with it.

[Togo77]

Originally Posted by Country Breeze

I use 1.5-2 teaspoons of neem per quart of water. I also mix in a mild soap; I'd guess a teaspoon or so. I use Dr. Bonners, but Dawn,softsoap, etc, can work to. Different soaps need different concentrations. Add enough to break up and disperse the neem when you shake the bottle. If the neem floats back to the top of the bottle quickly, add a little more soap.

Just be sure to test spray a few leaves and wait a day or so before spraying all of your plants with it.

Thank you.

[gorbelly]

Originally Posted by Country Breeze

Neem only kills problem insects that ingest it.

I would personally avoid neem on flowering plants. Pollinators can ingest neem through contaminated nectar and pollen. And while it may not always be reliably lethal, it can produce lots of sublethal effects that can hurt the health of a hive/nest.

https://academic.oup.com/jinsectscie...s-of-Botanical

And if predators are eating pests that have ingested neem, there may be upstream effects. Neem is broad-spectrum, and whether natural or not, I try to use broad-spectrum agents very carefully.

However, I admit that preserving a healthy balance of insect populations is a primary concern of mine. It may not be as important in other people's calculations.

[edweather]

So I've given the plants a dose of Neem and Spinosad. Hopefully no further damage. From what I've read, leaf miners aren't serious most of the time, but these were bad. They did extensive damage, but only to the tomatoes. Very little damage to melons, beans, figs, cucs, and citrus. Probably could have gotten ahead of the situation, but this was my first year here in Z9a. Might have a second chance at a fall crop.

[Togo77]

I noticed my first leaf miners this weekend on a few zucchini leaves. I sprayed with Spinosad. Two days later the leaf miner tracks have not progressed and no new ones have appeared. I am impressed.