Celery leaf mining fly

The larvae of celery leaf mining fly feed within the leaves of celery, celeriac and related plants. Damaged areas dry up and give the foliage a scorched appearance. 

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Celery leaf miner (<EM>Euleia heraclei</EM>) on celery
Celery leaf miner (Euleia heraclei) on celery

Quick facts

Common name: Celery leaf mining fly
Latin name: Euleia heraclei
Plants affected: Celery, parsnips, celeriac, parsley, lovage and related wild flowers
Main symptoms: Blotchy mined leaves that become brown and papery
Caused by: Larvae of a fly
Timing: May to October

What is celery leaf mining fly?

Adult celery leaf mining flies are light brown to black flies, with a yellow thorax, they are approximately 5mm long. The larvae are white, legless and headless maggots that feed in groups within the leaves of celery and related plants. The larvae reach 7mm in length.

The fly belongs to the family Tephritidae, also known as picture winged flies or fruit flies. A diverse group of flies with more than 70 species Britain. Many form galls on plants in the Asteraceae others feed on fruits or as leaf miners.  

Nearly 900 insects, including some beetles, sawflies and moths create leaf mines as larvae in Britain. More information about some for these insects can be found at The leaf and stem mines of British flies and other insects.

 

Symptoms

The maggots of this fly form communal mines in the leaves. Affected areas at first appear as large, pale green blotches which soon dry up and become brown and papery. This gives the foliage the appearance of having been scorched.  Parsnips, celeriac, parsley, lovage and related wild flowers are similarly damaged by this insect.

There are at least two generations during the year and mining occurs between early May and the autumn. The first generation is generally less numerous than the second, but it can cause a serious check to growth. This may result in small celery plants with a bitter taste. When the grubs have finished feeding, some pupate in the mines while others pupate in the soil.

Management

Non-pesticide 

  • Some damage can be tolerated
  • Growing the plants under insect proof mesh will prevent female flies laying eggs on the  foliage. Crop rotation must be practised in conjunction with this method, otherwise adult flies may emerge from overwintered pupae in the soil and be trapped under the netting
  • Susceptible plants can be checked regularly during the summer for early signs of damage
  • Populations that start late in the growing season are unlikely to cause serious harm and control measures may not be necessary at that time
  • On uncovered plants control is limited to pinching out infested parts of the leaves
  • Bry deeply affeced leaves at the end of the growing season to destroy some of the overwintering pupae
  • Leaf miners can be part of a healthy balanced garden, most species will have natural enemies including parasitoid wasps. Birds such as blue tits can sometimes open mines to consume the larvae within

Pesticides

  • There are no pesticides available to home gardeners that are likely to give control of celery leaf miner. Pesticides can have undesirable side effects as it will kill natural enemies and other non-target animals

See also...

Celery
Celeriac

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