Insect
Celery Leaf Miner
A small fly whose larvae create blotchy, discoloured mines inside celery and parsley leaves, turning leaves papery and reducing plant vigour.
Symptoms to Look For
- Large irregular pale blotch mines inside celery leaves when held to the light
- Leaves turning brown and papery where mining has consumed the tissue
- Stunted, bitter-tasting stems on heavily attacked plants
Affected Plants
CeleryCeleriacParsley
Organic Solutions
Row covers
Protect celery crops with fine insect mesh from transplanting through harvest to exclude egg-laying adults.
Remove mined leaves
Pick off and destroy blotched leaves as soon as they appear, before larvae complete development and pupate.
Prevention
- Do not compost mined leaves as pupae may survive in the heap
- Rotate celery and parsley to a fresh bed each year
Garden, by Willowbottom recommends only organic, wildlife-friendly solutions. No synthetic pesticides, no harmful chemicals - ever.