Worms

Several species of moths will lay eggs on the foliage of tomato plants if given the opportunity. The major pest species in our region are the tomato fruitworm (Helicoverpa zea), the yellow striped armyworm (Spodoptera ornithogalli), and beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). These are also serious pests of many field crops. The larvae of these lepidopterans are hairless caterpillars and thus commonly referred to as "worms." They can usually be spotted by damaged leaves with nearby "frass" droppings. Hand removal of the larvae before they move into the fruit is an option.

These moths do not usually appear until later in the tomato season when outside populations build. Because the moths are relatively large, about an inch wingspread, coarse window screening over air intakes, fans and all possible openings to the outside will exclude most without interring with air flow. A double door entry helps. These moths attracted to night lights and can sometimes be seen resting near entranceways in the morning.

The "tomato fruitworm" is a major agricultural pest and is also known as the "corn earworm" and "cotton bollworm." Field populations have 3 generations per year in our area. Very low moth populations are present in May as a few moths emerge from pupae overwintering in the soil, or migrate from the south. Moth populations increase during the second generation in early summer, and reach a maximum by the third generation in August.