Strange Tomato Worm

snappybob · May 20, 2010

I've been finding yellow leaves on my tomatoes. On closer, magnified, inspection I could see places where all of the green was gone leaving only a clear membrane. Some of the places looked as if there had once been a web type cocoon there. I started looking at some of the other leaves on the plant that had not progressed as much and found, sure enough, a cacoon. I broke it open to find a tiny live worm inside. I took a picture of it. Here is a link to it. I couldn't make the picture appear hear. I couldn't make the link work here so you will have to copy and paste it to your browser address bar. Maybe it will work for you once it's posted. Sorry for the inconvenience. Anyway, I'm not sure how to treat this problem. BT works on worms but by the time a worm emerges the damage has been done. Does anyone know what this is and how is best to treat it. Thanks.

http://www.pbase.com/snappybob/image/124746774

RandyG · May 20, 2010

This is the tomato pin worm. It can also get into the fruit around the stem end. BT applied frequently will control it, but once the larva gets larger and rolls the leaf up, it is hard to control. Start applying Bt frequently. The adult form of this insect is a very small brown moth. You should be able to see the moth in late afternoon just before dark flying around the plants and laying eggs. Unless there is a lot of damage already, I would remove the affected plant portions to reduce the population of adults that will emerge to cause more damage. This insect can cause severe damage to the foliage and fruit if not controlled.

veggie babe · May 21, 2010

I am so glad you guys posted this info. Last week I found these worms and cacoons on my oregano, I had no clue what this was except it destroyed my plant. I will take a closer look at my toms tomorrow, so far all I have found is 2 tomato horn worms.
Keep us posted,

Neva

geeboss · May 21, 2010

Post pic for snappybob

b54red · May 21, 2010

Spray with Sevin and make sure to add some dishwashing soap to your mix so it will wet through the web. I had these last year and waited a little too late and lost the two largest tomatoes of the year to them. Once I sprayed with Sevin I had no more problem. I'm not to confident in the bt because my plant looked well dusted with bt but it didn't stop them or at least it didn't stop enough of them. The bt did work well on the tomato hornworms.

May 20, 2010	#1
snappybob SETTFest™ Coordinator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 214	Strange Tomato Worm I've been finding yellow leaves on my tomatoes. On closer, magnified, inspection I could see places where all of the green was gone leaving only a clear membrane. Some of the places looked as if there had once been a web type cocoon there. I started looking at some of the other leaves on the plant that had not progressed as much and found, sure enough, a cacoon. I broke it open to find a tiny live worm inside. I took a picture of it. Here is a link to it. I couldn't make the picture appear hear. I couldn't make the link work here so you will have to copy and paste it to your browser address bar. Maybe it will work for you once it's posted. Sorry for the inconvenience. Anyway, I'm not sure how to treat this problem. BT works on worms but by the time a worm emerges the damage has been done. Does anyone know what this is and how is best to treat it. Thanks. http://www.pbase.com/snappybob/image/124746774

May 20, 2010	#2
RandyG Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: western North Carolina Posts: 84	This is the tomato pin worm. It can also get into the fruit around the stem end. BT applied frequently will control it, but once the larva gets larger and rolls the leaf up, it is hard to control. Start applying Bt frequently. The adult form of this insect is a very small brown moth. You should be able to see the moth in late afternoon just before dark flying around the plants and laying eggs. Unless there is a lot of damage already, I would remove the affected plant portions to reduce the population of adults that will emerge to cause more damage. This insect can cause severe damage to the foliage and fruit if not controlled.

May 21, 2010	#3
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	I am so glad you guys posted this info. Last week I found these worms and cacoons on my oregano, I had no clue what this was except it destroyed my plant. I will take a closer look at my toms tomorrow, so far all I have found is 2 tomato horn worms. Keep us posted, Neva

May 21, 2010	#4
geeboss Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Fairfax, VA Z7 Posts: 524	Post pic for snappybob

May 21, 2010	#5
b54red Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Alabama Posts: 7,068	Spray with Sevin and make sure to add some dishwashing soap to your mix so it will wet through the web. I had these last year and waited a little too late and lost the two largest tomatoes of the year to them. Once I sprayed with Sevin I had no more problem. I'm not to confident in the bt because my plant looked well dusted with bt but it didn't stop them or at least it didn't stop enough of them. The bt did work well on the tomato hornworms.