Bugs Associated With Tomatoes

Psyllids

• While injecting toxic saliva, psyllids feed on the plant sap, causing the leaves to turn yellow, veins to turn purple and the plant stem to become twisted or bent. The nymphs live on the underside of the leaves, are the size of an aphid, and, while feeding, deposit small white granular-like particles. Dusting both sides of the plant foliage with sulfur will control psyllids.

Flea Beetle

• Dark brown or black, small in size and jumpy when touched, adult flea beetles chew small holes in the leaves of tomato plants. While this will not kill the plant, it does initially weaken it, leaving the plant susceptible to fungal diseases such as early blight. Many plants will outgrow the beetle damage, but if flea beetle problems continue, use a insecticide specific to this strain of beetle.

Stink Bugs

• Shield-shaped, and brown or green in color, stink bugs feed on the tomato causing dark spots on the outside, and extensive internal damage to the vegetables. They begin feeding on young tomatoes, leaving dark pin-like marks that turn green or yellow as the tomato matures. The tissue beneath the markings becomes white and spongy and hollow areas will develop under the skin damage. Stink bugs live in weedy spots, so keep the garden area well cultivated.

Tomato Hornworm

• Complete with a red horn on its back end, the tomato hornworm sports white v-shaped markings along its body. Large, grey-green caterpillars, hornworms will eat through the plant leaves and into any young tomatoes. Most vegetable insecticides will remove hornworms from the plant, or pick them off by hand and destroy them.

Whitefiles and Aphids

• Insecticidal soap is the best remedy if whiteflies or aphids become a problem. Both excrete a sticky substance known as honeydew that will leave the foliage sticky feeling and shiny. Neither pest will do severe damage to the plant; the effects of whiteflies and aphids are minimal.

Preventive Measures

• Monitor the plants regularly for pests, and eliminate them as soon as they arrive, before they become a problem. Keep the area free of weeds and plant debris because many insects overwinter or live in weedy spots. Give the plants plenty of space to allow for good air circulation and less opportunity for pests to hide among the vines.