Leaf miners: Conopomorpha civica

Symptoms of damage:

• Larvae feed on the tissues between the upper and lower epidermis of tender leaves resulting in linear mines that end in 'blister' like patches.

• The infested leaves become crinkled and the mined areas dry up leading to the formation of large holes on the leaves.

Identification of pest:

• The larvae are pale gray initially and later become pink.

• The adult is a minute silvery gray moth.

Management:

• Spraying quinalphos 0.05% during emergence of new flushes is effective in preventing the pest infestation.

• Many other leaf feeding caterpillars and beetles also occur sporadically on cinnamon feeding on tender flushes. Application of quinalphos 0.05% would keep them under check.

Image source:

www.agri.ruh.ac.lk