Holes in my Tomato, Pepper and Eggplants

[vodreaux]

What causing the holes in my Tomato, Pepper and Eggplants?

It just started in the last 5 days. It not on all my plants, just same area. I live in Suburbia SoCalif.







Image 4
Image 5

[hald]

I've got these too. I've ruled out tomato horn worms as I pick them off every day. I've also noticed 2 types of worms on my tomatos - one is the large worm that everyone knows and the other is a very small green worm that is even harder to see.

On my veges the "hole" symptom appears on tomatoes, bell peppers, and eggplant. It appears on plants grown hydroponically and soil container, and also on plants under shade cloth and in direct sun.

I'm guessing it must be some type of flying insect. Anyone know?
-Hal

[Rena]

Slugs would be my first guess. If you do not see any type of pillar. There are some organic stuff out there for slugs. They really like peppers!

[vodreaux]

I look and look all over. I do not see any worms unless it blends in so well with the plant. I do not see anything under the leaves either.

[Rena]

Slugs come out at night and early morn. yickeee

[vodreaux]

I have slug problem on my lawn in front yard.

I will check in the evening in my backyard.

[Rena]

I have "heard" you can place a plate full of beer and they will drown themselves. Not sure that is true. I have also heard you can place eggshells around the plants? Slugs can hide under loads of stuff. They even find there way in the Greenhouse. Each year I say I am going to put copper wire (tape) around the tables so they do not crawl up. The type here in Ga do not have shells.

[vodreaux]

I did find the following worms. Sorry for the blurry picture.

1 inch in length. I found more leaves eaten from this morning. It also 100 'F

[miniedmo]

In the first pic it looks like you have a couple of horn worm droppings on the lower leaf to the bottom left.

I have a pest called Flee Beetle on my tomato plants and chew holes in the leaves and it looks alot like your #2 pic. They are little black bugs and when you move the leaves to look at them, they jump off. I have been using soap on the tomatos but it does not seem to effect these bugs at all.

[nancysil]

This also looks like tortoise beetle damage. Tortoise beetles in my area are the type that look like a smudge of dirt on a clear hard shell. They can be hard to spot if you aren't used to them.

Check out the thread started by Cecil (Cecilsgarden) titled "Clavate Tortoise Beetle" He's provided a link to a picture of the critter.

[vodreaux]

It definitely be Clavate Tortoise Beetle damage.

I found dirt looking substance on some of the leaves. I wonder how dark dirt got on top of the leaves.


How to get rid of them beside flaking it off and stomp on it?

Soap Insecticide?

[hald]

Thanks for the information. I also see the horn worm droppings in the first picture. Is there a solution if it is beetles?

I've been trying to grow without using sprays but am just about ready to give up because of the tomato worms. I'm picking a couple dozen off every day. Is there a natural way of controlling them besides picking them off? Maybe a lure of some type that will trap and kill the parent insect?
-Hal

[nancysil]

After a lot of worrying, the tortoise beetles in my garden just went away. I didn't get around to treat them, I just picked them off and disposed of the ones I saw.

I don't think tomato plants are it's prefered food. It goes mainly for plants of the morning glory family, bind weed, etc. so perhaps they were waiting for these plants to become more available and took of for greener pastures when they were ready.