leaf miner
/ˈliːf ˌmaɪnər/
noun
- A small insect larva that burrows and feeds inside the tissue of a leaf, creating visible tunnels or blotches.
- Birds often eat leaf-miner larvae from the undersides of leaves.
- Leaf-miners can damage ornamental plants if not controlled early.
- The gardener noticed squiggly white lines on the tomato leaves, a sign of leaf-miner activity.