How To Get Rid Of Leaf Miner In Red Beet Plants

Question From: Portland, Oregon, United States
Q: What is the best treatment for leaf miner in red beet plants. Mine are overrun with this pest.

A: Once the bugs have entered the leaf there is nothing you can do. The eggs are laid on the backs of the leaves, so scraping off the eggs will take care of the problem. You can spray the backs of the leaves with spinosad, but this must be done weekly. Tenting the plants with floating row covers to keep adults from laying eggs will also work. Hope this helps. Happy Yardening, Nancy.