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Tomato Pests & Diseases

Help! What does this bug look like to you?

17 years ago

I woke up this morning to the shock of seeing many of the leaves on my tomato plants dotted with holes. I pulled back a leaf and found this guy. What is it and how do I get rid of them? I did some visual inspection and found a few more of them which I quickly dispatched. Could their presence be due to the fact that some tomato leaves are touching the ground and inviting them up into the plant?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ken

{{gwi:1293093}}

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Comments (2)

calken
Original Author
17 years ago
I posted this question in the pests and diseases forum but haven't gotten a response, so I'll post it here as well.

I woke up this morning to the shock of seeing many of the leaves on my tomato plants dotted with holes. I pulled back a leaf and found this guy. I took his picture before getting rid of him. I did some visual inspection and found a few more of them which I quickly dispatched. What is it and how do I get rid of them? Could their presence be due to the fact that some tomato leaves are touching the ground and inviting them up into the plant?

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ken

{{gwi:1293093}}
sallym
17 years ago
Hi Ken,
This is a cabbage looper. You can use Bt (bacillus thuringinensis) that will kill caterpillars (note: all caterpillars.) You can purchase it at garden centers. Or you can release trichogramma wasps, a beneficial that will take care of the loopers, and many other garden pests. I've purchased these from Gardens Alive! and they are also available elsewhere. Or, you can handpick the loopers. Good luck!
Sally

Here is a link that might be useful: info about Bt
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