Skin damage to tomato fruit...insect?

gardenspot_grow · June 4, 2012

I am working with a greenhouse tomato grower, who showed me this fruit with what looks like insect damage. I've never seen anything like it...any ideas? The patches look like dry, rasped skin (see photos).

RayR · June 4, 2012

Yep that looks like bugs, probably a beetle of some sort The probe around the skin with their mouth parts, If they don't penetrate the skin too deep, the skin heals and leaves those white surface scars or small indentations. Worst case is if fungal infections set in before the skin heals.

kurt · June 4, 2012

I remember reading about a situation similar and the word "flecking"came up.It was biting of some bug and it did transmit some crud as RayR mentioned.

gardenspot_grow · June 5, 2012

Thank you, I will look for fleabeetles or other insects that might've done it. I don't think the grower has many with this type of damage, but we'll be on the look out.

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June 4, 2012	#2
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,468	Yep that looks like bugs, probably a beetle of some sort The probe around the skin with their mouth parts, If they don't penetrate the skin too deep, the skin heals and leaves those white surface scars or small indentations. Worst case is if fungal infections set in before the skin heals.

June 4, 2012	#3
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,503	I remember reading about a situation similar and the word "flecking"came up.It was biting of some bug and it did transmit some crud as RayR mentioned.

June 5, 2012	#4
gardenspot_grow Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Ephrata, PA Posts: 2	Thank you, I will look for fleabeetles or other insects that might've done it. I don't think the grower has many with this type of damage, but we'll be on the look out.