What kind of worm burrows into tomatoes?

lakelady · July 26, 2012

I can't get pics now with the storm coming, but I found several tomatoes with holes in them, and one has a brown worm living in it. I've never had this before. They seem to prefer the Italian tomato varieties for some reason, which is odd. They haven't touched the others.

What kind of worm lives in tomatoes?

kurt · July 26, 2012

I have "caught"some of the brown hornworms(or worm?) inside tomatos,can't say they stay there because next to them were maters with holes in them and no worms.I have never found them inside ripe maters though.I think I caught them in the act and they still go to ground at daytime or hide under leaves until evening.

kath · July 27, 2012

Did it have lighter stripes? Armyworms will burrow in and feed inside tomatoes.

Gotta get 'em all when they're first hatched on the leaves.

shelleybean · July 27, 2012

I have army worms this season, as well, and they're burrowing the tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I need to go read my can of Dipel and see if that will help.

kurt · July 27, 2012

http://www.tomatodirt.com/tomato-fruitworms.html Thanks for starting this discussion.More worms than I knew are a pest.

lakelady · July 27, 2012

eww these are gross. I had some time to go outside today and found about 7 or 8, couldn't find any more. Tossed about 7 tomatoes with holes in them. Sprayed the plants with Spinosad. It seems they go for the plants that have the most dense foliage, but they weren't picky about PL or RL tomatoes. I'm sure there have to be more someplace but I couldn't find them. Dark brown with a beige stripe, fits the description of armyworms and tomato fruitworms. I caught one bugger resting on top of a tomato, likely getting ready to dig his way in. eww.

July 26, 2012	#1
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	What kind of worm burrows into tomatoes? I can't get pics now with the storm coming, but I found several tomatoes with holes in them, and one has a brown worm living in it. I've never had this before. They seem to prefer the Italian tomato varieties for some reason, which is odd. They haven't touched the others. What kind of worm lives in tomatoes? __________________ Antoniette

July 27, 2012	#4
shelleybean Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Virginia Beach Posts: 2,648	I have army worms this season, as well, and they're burrowing the tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. I need to go read my can of Dipel and see if that will help. __________________ Michele

July 27, 2012	#6
lakelady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: northern NJ zone 6b Posts: 1,862	eww these are gross. I had some time to go outside today and found about 7 or 8, couldn't find any more. Tossed about 7 tomatoes with holes in them. Sprayed the plants with Spinosad. It seems they go for the plants that have the most dense foliage, but they weren't picky about PL or RL tomatoes. I'm sure there have to be more someplace but I couldn't find them. Dark brown with a beige stripe, fits the description of armyworms and tomato fruitworms. I caught one bugger resting on top of a tomato, likely getting ready to dig his way in. eww. __________________ Antoniette

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July 26, 2012	#2
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,501	I have "caught"some of the brown hornworms(or worm?) inside tomatos,can't say they stay there because next to them were maters with holes in them and no worms.I have never found them inside ripe maters though.I think I caught them in the act and they still go to ground at daytime or hide under leaves until evening.

July 27, 2012	#3
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Did it have lighter stripes? Armyworms will burrow in and feed inside tomatoes. Gotta get 'em all when they're first hatched on the leaves.