Many generations occur each year and the entire life cycle can be completed in less than 3 weeks when the weather is warm. Choose selective pesticides for treating other pests, if possible, to avoid this problem. Other parasites attack leafminers, but the leafminer feeding habit protects them from most predators. Where possible, avoid planting next to infested fields, especially those near harvest. Regularly check young seedlings for leafmines.
Most mines occur on cotyledons and the first true leaves.
Some mines are most obvious from the underside of the leaf. If leafminer populations build to high levels when seedlings have 4 to 5 leaves, a chemical treatment may be necessary. Treat if you find more than an average of one mine per leaf in your overall field sample. To be effective, sprays must be applied to the larval stage. For use on head lettuce only.