Something in my chard!

[katkatkat]

My first time growing Chard and I was really happy to see some nice leaves forming. Then I noticed the beasties. Can someone please help me identify what is happily chomping its way through the insides of my chard leaves? They look like a wee maggoty grub of some kind.

Short of destroy the effected leaves is there any other way to get rid of them or any other signs I should look out for? Are they likely to spread to any other crops?

[gardengeordie]

it looks like its a snail/slug track try using pellets around your bed

[katkatkat]

Maybe the photo isn't good enough, there was a wee greeny white maggoty thing squirming around inside the leaf (on the photo if you follow the central red vein up from my thumb, when it stops, it's just above that). The slimy looking patch is the area where it's caused the two sides of the leaf to separate from each other.

[vixylix]

I think its leaf miner... but I dont grow chard so can't give you any specific advice. I'm sure someone will be along shortly!

[roitelet]

Its leaf miner. Take off the affected leaves and make sure you squash the maggot then compost. Chard will grow more leaves at an alarming rate so you won't have lost much.

[Bren In Pots]

Its leaf miner. Take off the affected leaves and make sure you squash the maggot then compost. Chard will grow more leaves at an alarming rate so you won't have lost much.

I did that yesterday to some of my chard leaves.

[katkatkat]

Thank you. I wish I'd inspected them more closely as won't be back out until Thursday but I guess they can't do that much damage in that time *crosses fingers* Still coming to terms with squishing beasties but currently we don't yet have a compost bin set up and most of my weeds are mare's tail so they went in the rubbish with that.

I'm guessing as they're all from a similar family I should also check my spinach and beets?

[Mr Bones]

I'm guessing as they're all from a similar family I should also check my spinach and beets?

It's Beet Leaf Miner so it will go for anything in that group.