Q: I had problems with tomatoes last summer. The leaves started looking etched with white, then died and ultimately the plants died. Can you tell me what the problem was and what should be done to prevent it this summer?

A: Yikes – tomato leaf miners!

The adults are small fly-like insects that lay their eggs on tomato leaves This insect is tough to control but repeated sprayings with spinosad (Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew) will help kill the adults if you regularly pick off the affected leaves.

Tomatoes can withstand a moderate infestation with no reduction in fruit. Fertilize the tomatoes regularly to keep new leaves coming back.

Plant lots of flowers around them to attract beneficial insects that prey on the flies.

Serpentine Leaf Miners

tomato leaf miner

tomato leaf miner