Help identifiying green caterpillars (beet armyworms?)

Lycopersica · October 3, 2015

Since early fall, I've been finding these green caterpillars chewing holes in tomato leaves and unripe fruit. At first, I thought they were tomato fruitworms but they don't usually stay inside the tomatoes. Are they beet armyworms? Also, will Safer Insecticidal soap work on them? I'm getting tired of squishing them by hand only to find more the next day.

I've been seeing a few of these moths hovering near the plants too so I suspect they might be the adult form. (Sorry for the blurriness. It's inside a jar.)

Worth1 · October 3, 2015

Cabbage looper looks like to me.
Do they hump up when the crawl?
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...Zg9f2wkskO1sHQ

Lycopersica · October 3, 2015

Huh, I think you're right that they're cabbage loopers. They do bunch up their mid sections into a hump when they crawl.

ginger2778 · October 3, 2015

Do a spraying with BT. Organic, it's a bacterium that gives the cats an infection. They stop eating right away, and they die in about a day. Thurcide and Dipel are 2 brands of BT. I mix 1 teaspoon per gallon. Works great! Harmless to humans and beneficials, deadly to all caterpillars. Good on mosquito larvae also.

Or if you don't care about organic, you could use Sevin spray and they will be dead in an hour.

AlittleSalt · October 5, 2015

Marsha, I read "cats" and thought - oh no, I don't want that stuff.

Cats = caterpillars, not the ones that meow.

ginger2778 · October 5, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Marsha, I read "cats" and thought - oh no, I don't want that stuff.

Cats = caterpillars, not the ones that meow.

Oh my. I didn't even think of that!

Lycopersica · October 5, 2015

Ha ha, it took me a second to realize what you meant also. I'm very glad I don't have cats crawling all over my plants!

I'll start with the insecticidal soap. If that doesn't work and they come back next year, I'll try BT. I'd rather use that as a last resort since I've heard that some insects are starting to become resistant to BT.

Can cabbage loopers overwinter in zone 5b? If not, the problem may just resolve itself.

Gardenboy · October 8, 2015

Try not to use Sevin dust or liquid...I think it kills all the necessary pollinators in your garden. Use the Thurcide or Dipel .

Barb_FL · October 9, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lycopersica

Ha ha, it took me a second to realize what you meant also. I'm very glad I don't have cats crawling all over my plants!

I'll start with the insecticidal soap. If that doesn't work and they come back next year, I'll try BT. I'd rather use that as a last resort since I've heard that some insects are starting to become resistant to BT.

Can cabbage loopers overwinter in zone 5b? If not, the problem may just resolve itself.

I'm sure BT only works on caterpillars and mosquito larvae; no other insects
are affected so no resistance to build up.

October 3, 2015	#1
Lycopersica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New England Posts: 46	Help identifiying green caterpillars (beet armyworms?) Since early fall, I've been finding these green caterpillars chewing holes in tomato leaves and unripe fruit. At first, I thought they were tomato fruitworms but they don't usually stay inside the tomatoes. Are they beet armyworms? Also, will Safer Insecticidal soap work on them? I'm getting tired of squishing them by hand only to find more the next day. I've been seeing a few of these moths hovering near the plants too so I suspect they might be the adult form. (Sorry for the blurriness. It's inside a jar.) __________________ Root for your cuttings and they'll do the same for you

October 3, 2015	#3
Lycopersica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New England Posts: 46	Huh, I think you're right that they're cabbage loopers. They do bunch up their mid sections into a hump when they crawl. __________________ Root for your cuttings and they'll do the same for you

October 5, 2015	#7
Lycopersica Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: New England Posts: 46	Ha ha, it took me a second to realize what you meant also. I'm very glad I don't have cats crawling all over my plants! I'll start with the insecticidal soap. If that doesn't work and they come back next year, I'll try BT. I'd rather use that as a last resort since I've heard that some insects are starting to become resistant to BT. Can cabbage loopers overwinter in zone 5b? If not, the problem may just resolve itself. __________________ Root for your cuttings and they'll do the same for you

October 3, 2015	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Cabbage looper looks like to me. Do they hump up when the crawl? https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...Zg9f2wkskO1sHQ

October 3, 2015	#4
ginger2778 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Plantation, Florida zone 10 Posts: 9,283	Do a spraying with BT. Organic, it's a bacterium that gives the cats an infection. They stop eating right away, and they die in about a day. Thurcide and Dipel are 2 brands of BT. I mix 1 teaspoon per gallon. Works great! Harmless to humans and beneficials, deadly to all caterpillars. Good on mosquito larvae also. Or if you don't care about organic, you could use Sevin spray and they will be dead in an hour.

October 5, 2015	#5
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	Marsha, I read "cats" and thought - oh no, I don't want that stuff. Cats = caterpillars, not the ones that meow.

October 8, 2015	#8
Gardenboy Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 784	Try not to use Sevin dust or liquid...I think it kills all the necessary pollinators in your garden. Use the Thurcide or Dipel .