Seasonal development
and life cycle—Tentiform leafminer
Female moths lay eggs singly on the undersides of developing
leaves. Larvae hatch and mine through their egg cases directly
into leaf tissue, where they pass through five larval stages.
Young larvae separate the outer layer of the leaf undersurface
from the tissue above and form snakelike mines. Older larvae
tie the sides of the mine together with silk, giving the
mines a tentlike appearance. Pupation takes place within
the mine and lasts 7 to 10 days. Leafminers overwinter as
a pupae within the tissue of fallen leaves. Adult moths
emerge as early as late February or early March. There are
four generations a year; later generations overlap. | 
Leafminer
larva
Leafminer
pupa
|
