Tomato seedlings attacked

[BugMac]

What is attacking my tomato seedlings? Something is breaking off the top of my seedlings. As soon as we move the seedlings to the raised bed, something is breaking off the top of the plant, DOES NOT EAT ANYTHING, happens at night. We see no tracks, tried covering the plants with chicken wire dome. What could it be, not a bird, not worm, maybe small rodent but no disturbance in the soft dirt. What can we do to prevent these night time attacks?

 

[Chuck]

I have had those big outdoor roaches chew on my seedlings and do similar things. How many sets of true leaves did your seedlings have?

 

[Anniekay]

Earwigs will do that and they are nocturnal . I advise you start your seedlings inside under grow lights and after they have a good fibrous root system that fills the pot and 4 adult leaves, THEN plant outside.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Earwigs like to climb, a stick with a matchbox size box full of hay or cotton wool is pretty well irresistible to them and you can just take it off and dispose of them.

 

[BugMac]

The seedlings had 2 or 3 sets of true leaves each. We could wait a little longer to put them out. They do so well with the sun but we never had this problem before. Thanks, we will set some traps tonight to confirm critters.

 

[Chuck]

The seedlings had 2 or 3 sets of true leaves each. We could wait a little longer to put them out. They do so well with the sun but we never had this problem before. Thanks, we will set some traps tonight to confirm critters.

If the plants are that big it is not earwigs or roaches. It could be cutworms. They are eating my broccoli leaves at night and I am out of Bt at the moment.

 

[Anniekay]

The seedlings had 2 or 3 sets of true leaves each. We could wait a little longer to put them out. They do so well with the sun but we never had this problem before. Thanks, we will set some traps tonight to confirm critters.

Have you got squirrels? I had my small pepper plants eaten by them, they left the roots and ate the whole plant.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

At that size a large plastic drinks bottle with the bottom cut off will cover it, push and twist and it will bed into the earth. A bamboo through the neck and into the ground will stop it blowing away. It may not work , but it is a better protection than the wire and worth a try. If it is nocturnal it could be a slug, they are not keen on tomatoes, but they are not keen on onions either, and I have seen one fell one onion and then move on to the next, they might be a bit thick and forget what they don't like quickly.