The pests of the tomato plant can be a major snare of your crop. Utilize these suggestions to control them.
Pests that infest tomatoes comprise a wide species. They are found crawling through the ground, crawling and digging through the leaves and fruits. Other pests can attack stems and roots of plants. The extent of their destruction is variable, but the end result of tomato plants tends to be the same – poor growth of the plant and a lower harvest.
Fighting off any pests in your garden starts with identifying the they are and taking the necessary steps to protect your plants. This list of seven common tomato pests can help you identify which are infesting your garden and the best methods to rid these pests.
Aphids
There are numerous species of aphids which eat tomatoes. The tiny, soft-bodied insects vary in color from light yellow, green, and black. They harm plants by piercing the plant’s parts and causing new growth to curl, shrink and the blossoms to fall. Aphids don’t kill plants, however they do lower yield and leave the plant more vulnerable to disease and pests.
The best way to handle?The most effective protection against Aphids is to increase the number of natural predators like lady beetles as well as lacewing larvae. They feed upon aphids and helping to keep the population under control. Encourage natural predators by limiting the use of pesticides. Pesticides, including natural alternatives, are harmful to beneficial insects and those that pose a threat to them.
Armyworms
There are several kinds of armyworms that attack tomatoes. However, generally, the tiny larvae are yellow or have a cream stripe that runs down the side of their black or gray body. They harm tomatoes by eating tiny holes throughout fruits that are ripening. They usually damage a lot of tomatoes that are in a fruit cluster.
How to deal with it?If armyworm larvae are discovered in their tiniest stages, they can be controlled with Bacillus Thuringiensis. The early detection of armyworms is crucial to the control. Check the leaves of plants when they are in flower to identify armyworms.
Cutworms
There are many kinds of cutworms, but the harm they cause is similar. They eat away at plants by feeding on the roots and stems, which cut off nutrients and water for the plants. The worms, which measure 2 inches long, create a tight C-shape when disturbed. They vary in shades of brown, green, pink or black. Thin tomatoes that are just beginning to sprout are the most vulnerable to damage caused by cutworms. Cutworms are not a major issue in the summer.
The best way to handle it is:Watch for plants that have been cut off close to their roots or that suddenly begin to wilt (cutworms may gnaw on the stems but they will not cut from the plants). If the damage is apparent, get rid of any cutworms you see. They are most active in the early morning and late in the evening. Install cardboard or aluminum collars on seedlings. The collars will form barriers that prevent cutworm larvae from eating the plants. In autumn, you can till your garden beds to kill cutworms that are overwintering in your soil.
