Pest Control for Tomato Borers

Prevention

• Inspect tomatoes regularly for small eggs and larvae. Tomato fruitworm eggs are white with a red ring while tomato stalk borer eggs are white and ribbed when first laid, and eventually turn brown or amber before hatching. Prevention by inspection is especially important for tomato stalk borers because the plant is hard, if not impossible, to save once the pest has entered it. Keep weeds and garden debris clear to prevent tomato stalk borer eggs from overwintering. Check random leaves on the tomato plant and destroy any tomato borer eggs. Entry holes made by tomato fruitworms are found at the base of the fruit's stem. Remove the affected fruit and destroy. Avoid planting tomatoes near corn and cotton to reduce tomato borer infestations.

BT

• Bacillus thuringiensis, or BT, is a microbial biological control method that is used on a wide variety of garden pests including tomato borers. BT is popular among organic gardeners because it doesn't harm a majority of beneficial insects or people. It comes in many forms like liquid, powder, and granules. Follow the label directions for application instructions. Use at the first sign of tomato borer eggs. Once the pests hatch and ingest the chemical, they become paralyzed, unable to eat and die.

Neem Oil

• Neem oil is extracted from the seed of the neem tree and is poisonous to many types of garden pests. Neem oil is unpalatable to tomato borers and discourages them from feeding on the plant. If the neem oil is ingested, the tomato borer larva's growth is stunted because it is unable to molt. Neem is especially effective against tomato borers because it has systemic effects, which allow the leaves and stems to absorb the neem extracts into the plant and kill pests while inside the tomato plant.

Beneficial Insects

• Parasitic trichogramma wasps work well at parasitizing tomato fruitworm eggs and larvae. Attract these beneficial insects by planting various types of asters and herbs like dill and parsley. Parasitic wasps can also be purchased and released into the garden. Big-eyed bugs and minute pirate bugs feed on the tomato borer eggs and larva. Attract minute pirate bugs by planting goldenrod, daisies, alfalfa and stinging nettle. Big-eyed bugs lay eggs in goldenrod, alfalfa, cosmos and soybeans.