Tomato fruitworm

[Chuck]

While inspecting my garden I came across two tomatoes that were already coloring. Knowing that it is too early for this I took a close look at them and found something I haven't seen for years. Tomato fruitworms. TF's are basically a corn earworm that likes tomatoes and eggplants. You know you have them when you see a tiny hole around the stem area. Most of the time they are located here but can be in other places as well. What happenes is a moth flies in at night and lays it eggs. They can be either on the leaves or on the tomato. The egg hatches and the tiny tiny caterpillar immediately bores into the fruit. This happens in a very short period of time. They seem to only like green tomatoes but when they are inside the tomato the tomato is ruined. It will start to color quickly and by the time you think the tomato is ripe it is destroyed on the inside. On most varieties the growth of the tomato either stops or is greatly slowed down. The following pictures were taken this morning. I wouldn't have known what was happening if I didn't see a little color among all the foliage. I inspected the rest of my tomatoes and I estimate I will loose about 5% of the tomatoes already set. The only thing I can do now is to pick all of the tomatoes with the holes in them and start a spray regimen of Bt to save any future tomatoes. The first picture show what the little holes look like, the second what early damage looks like and the third shows the little bity worm although it is a tad blurry and I accidentally smashed his tail while cutting to tomatoes

 

[Beverly]

I suppose you can think of them as tomatoes with the added benefit of protein i hope you will be able to save the remaining ones.

 

[Chuck]

I suppose you can think of them as tomatoes with the added benefit of protein i hope you will be able to save the remaining ones.

I only wished. Once they are inside the tomato there is nothing to be done. The sooner you pull the green tomatoes with holes in them the better it is for the rest of them on the plant. I don't think there is much protein in caterpillar poop.

 

[CrazyConure]

I hope you can get a good harvest.

I recommend spraying with BT, if you have it. Every gardener has 3 products on hand: Neem, Spinosad, and BT.

 

[Beth_B]

Huh. I had that issue a couple of years ago when we had a very rainy summer. I thought it was slugs but maybe not?

 

[Beverly]

I don't think there is much protein in caterpillar poop.

I think you are right about that, but looking at it from a different angle, the poop would be processed tomato and probably high in Vitamin C

 

[Chuck]

I think you are right about that, but looking at it from a different angle, the poop would be processed tomato and probably high in Vitamin C

Hmmm, all natural vitamin C. We could make a sandwich spread out of it. Mustard, mayo or tomato caterpillar poop

 

[Beverly]

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