How many larvae can be in one leaf affected by boxwood leafminer?

How many larvae can be in one leaf affected by boxwood leafminer?

• A. One to several larvae per leaf.
• B. Exactly two larvae per leaf.
• C. Ten to twenty larvae per leaf.
• D. No more than one larva per leaf.

Answer: (A)

Boxwood leafminer larvae develop inside the leaf tissue, and a single leaf can contain more than one mine created by separate larvae. Eggs laid on the same leaf can hatch into multiple larvae, each feeding within its own tunnel. Because of this, you’ll typically see one to several larvae on a single infested leaf, rather than a fixed single larva or a very high, uniform count. This variability matters in scouting and treatment decisions, since heavily infested leaves can harbor several larvae while others may have only one or none.

Boxwood leafminer larvae develop inside the leaf tissue, and a single leaf can contain more than one mine created by separate larvae. Eggs laid on the same leaf can hatch into multiple larvae, each feeding within its own tunnel. Because of this, you’ll typically see one to several larvae on a single infested leaf, rather than a fixed single larva or a very high, uniform count. This variability matters in scouting and treatment decisions, since heavily infested leaves can harbor several larvae while others may have only one or none.