Tomato Intruder

Noaccountdrifter · January 1, 2013

I am a newbie here and this is my first post.

My tomato plants were originally bought in Tennessee in March and were brought back home to Nevada by way of Arizona in June. They were transplanted (big mistake) into our indoor greenhouse and just didn't seem to be doing well. Some organic fertilizer seemed to help, and they got greener, but then the leaves began to dry up and die.

I used a digital microscope to inspect a leaf and found - much to my surprise - some tiny worms crawling on the leaf. I have attached a photo of one of the worms. Can anyone identify this pest and suggest what to do with our plants? We won't mind disposing of the plants if that is needed, but we are worried about the possibility of re-infestation when we start new tomatoes.

Thank you for any help you may offer.

Noaccountdrifter

Redbaron · January 1, 2013

Bacillus thuringiensis should take care of that. Carefully spray the leaves top and bottom of all your plants, even the ones not affected yet. There is a high probability that will correct the problem in just a couple days, without having to resort to chemical pesticides.

http://www.saferbrand.com/store/garden-care/5160

PS welcome to Tville!

tam91 · January 1, 2013

Those must be really tiny, if they show up like that under a microscope. I have no idea what they are. But Sevin or Eight (insecticides) kill most undesirables on tomato plants. If I were using that, I'd probably treat all the plants, affected or not.

RayR · January 1, 2013

It sure does look like a tiny Caterpillar. There aren't many Caterpillars that chew tomato leaves. Tobacco Hornworm and Tomato Hornworm larvae hatch with a horn already on their tail end, I don't see that. Cabbage Looper is a possibility.

henry · January 1, 2013

Might be tomato pin worm.
http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/...atoPinworm.pdf

Sun City Linda · January 1, 2013

Although that does look like a worm, the syptoms are typical of Tomato Russet Mites.

Noaccountdrifter · January 3, 2013

Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I have ordered some Bacillus thuringiensis.

January 1, 2013	#2
Redbaron Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 4,488	Bacillus thuringiensis should take care of that. Carefully spray the leaves top and bottom of all your plants, even the ones not affected yet. There is a high probability that will correct the problem in just a couple days, without having to resort to chemical pesticides. http://www.saferbrand.com/store/garden-care/5160 PS welcome to Tville! __________________ Scott AKA The Redbaron "Permaculture is a philosophy of working with, rather than against nature; of protracted & thoughtful observation rather than protracted & thoughtless labour; & of looking at plants & animals in all their functions, rather than treating any area as a single-product system." Bill Mollison co-founder of permaculture

January 1, 2013	#3
tam91 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Crystal Lake IL Posts: 2,484	Those must be really tiny, if they show up like that under a microscope. I have no idea what they are. But Sevin or Eight (insecticides) kill most undesirables on tomato plants. If I were using that, I'd probably treat all the plants, affected or not. __________________ Tracy

January 1, 2013	#5
henry Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Midway B.C. Canada Posts: 311	Might be tomato pin worm. http://www.fera.defra.gov.uk/plants/...atoPinworm.pdf __________________ Henry Last edited by henry; January 1, 2013 at 08:23 PM. Reason: photo did not work

January 1, 2013	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	It sure does look like a tiny Caterpillar. There aren't many Caterpillars that chew tomato leaves. Tobacco Hornworm and Tomato Hornworm larvae hatch with a horn already on their tail end, I don't see that. Cabbage Looper is a possibility.

January 1, 2013	#6
Sun City Linda Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Inland Posts: 2,705	Although that does look like a worm, the syptoms are typical of Tomato Russet Mites.

January 3, 2013	#7
Noaccountdrifter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Cherry Creek, NV Posts: 2	Thanks for the helpful suggestions. I have ordered some Bacillus thuringiensis.