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leaf miner
noun
: any of various small insects (such as moths or dipteran flies) that in the larval stages burrow in and eat the parenchyma of leaves
Examples of leaf miner in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The plant is host to an insect called the leaf miner which tunnels through foliage.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
Cut back plants in fall, or earlier if the plant dies back from heat, to reduce leaf miner populations.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2024
The reason behind this practice is that worm castings contain an enzyme known as chitinase that breaks down chitin, the major constituent in the exoskeleton of many insects, including whiteflies, aphids, and leaf miners, as well as spider mites.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 10 Aug. 2024
Insect Infestation Insects, such as leaf miners, mites, aphids, and thrips, are the most common cause of lemon tree leaves curling, Silvasy says.
—Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for leaf miner
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leaf miner.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1830, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near leaf miner
Cite this Entry
“Leaf miner.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leaf%20miner. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.
Kids Definition
leaf miner
noun
: any of various small insects that as larvae burrow in and eat the tissue of leaves
More from Merriam-Webster on leaf miner
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about leaf miner
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