Image: Cilantro Leaf with Leaf Miner Tunneling Damage
Published: February 6, 2026 at 6:03:06 PM UTC
High-resolution macro image of a cilantro leaf affected by leaf miner damage, featuring distinctive serpentine tunneling patterns on the leaf surface.
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Image description
The image presents a high-resolution, landscape-oriented macro photograph of a single cilantro leaf prominently displayed in the foreground, capturing extensive leaf miner damage in vivid detail. The leaf is a rich, natural green, with clearly defined serrated edges and a network of fine veins radiating outward from the central stem. Across this healthy green surface, multiple pale, cream-colored serpentine lines weave irregularly, forming the characteristic tunneling patterns created by leaf miner larvae feeding between the layers of leaf tissue. These winding trails vary in thickness and direction, occasionally intersecting or running parallel, and visually contrast strongly against the darker green background of the leaf.
Along several of the tunnels, small dark specks and slightly enlarged terminal spots are visible, suggesting frass deposits or exit points where the larvae completed their development. The texture of the leaf appears slightly matte yet fresh, with subtle surface irregularities that enhance realism. Tiny water droplets cling to parts of the leaf, catching light softly and adding a sense of freshness, as if the plant has recently been watered or exposed to dew. These droplets also help emphasize the leaf’s surface contours and the shallow depressions formed by the mining activity.
The background is composed of additional cilantro foliage rendered in a soft blur, creating a shallow depth of field that isolates the damaged leaf as the primary subject. The out-of-focus greenery provides a uniform, natural backdrop without distracting details, reinforcing the agricultural and botanical context of the image. Lighting appears natural and diffused, likely from an outdoor setting or greenhouse environment, evenly illuminating the leaf without harsh shadows or glare. This lighting allows the subtle color variations—from bright green to pale yellowish tunnel lines—to remain clearly visible.
Overall, the image serves as a clear and informative visual example of leaf miner infestation on cilantro. It combines scientific clarity with photographic quality, making it suitable for use in agricultural diagnostics, pest management guides, educational materials, or plant health documentation. The composition, focus, and resolution together emphasize both the beauty of the leaf’s natural structure and the distinctive damage caused by the insect larvae, enabling easy identification and close study of the tunneling patterns.
The image is related to: A Guide to Growing Cilantro in Your Own Garden