American serpentine leafminer (ASLM), thought to be restricted to northern Australia, has now been detected in southeast Queensland in the Lockyer Valley.

ASLM can impact Australia’s horticulture, nursery production, and agricultural plant industries.

It has been found in the cover crops Sunn Hemp and cowpea and on eggplants and capsicums in protected cropping structures.

Like serpentine leafminer (SLM), ASLM feeds on many plants and can impact commercial crops (including many vegetables). Damage on some commercial crops, due to both SLM and ASLM, has been recorded from Qld, NSW, NT, WA and Vic.

These include, but are not restricted to:

• beans
• celery
• cucumber
• lettuce
• onion
• potato
• tomato
• capsicum
• eggplant

ASLM can be confused with other Australian native leafminers and introduced Liriomyza species, including SLM.

While SLM is more of a temperate leafminer, ASLM prefers hot summers, allowing it to survive during these months in the field and in protected cropping situations.

The pest can be spread by moving plant material, soil, clothing and equipment. Adults can spread short distances unaided or assisted by the wind, but cannot travel long distances like Fall armyworm.

Leaf damage occurs through puncture wounds from the adults feeding and depositing eggs, as well as the larvae tunnelling or mining within the leaf tissue, the same as for SLM. High levels of infestation can affect the plant’s ability to photosynthesise, reducing plant growth and crop yields.

Experience from other countries shows us that IPM approaches are the most likely to be successful in managing these insects.

Be on the lookout for leaf miners in summer cropping situations or on crops grown under protected cropping structures.

A series of grower guides on best practice management of American serpentine leafminer, serpentine leafminer, and vegetable leafminer have been produced. These guides are available in English, and have been translated into Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Arabic.

For more information contact the Department of Primary Industries officers John Duff on 0418 726 597 or via email on at john.duff@daf.qld.gov.au or Dr Frezzel Tadle (Praise) on (07) 3087 9056 on frezzel.tadle@daf.qld.gov.au.