Tomato Fruitworm

Heliothis zea

image of Tomato Fruitworm image of Tomato Fruitworm eggs image of Tomato Fruitworm adult image of Tomato Fruitworm damage

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Symptoms:
Caterpillars have chewing mouthparts. Adults have siphoning mouths. The newly hatched caterpillar will eat its egg shell and then feed on tender leaves. Older caterpillars feed on older leaves and tunnel into fruit. Caterpillars have silk glands and produce silk threads around feeding sites. They also leave excrement in and underneath feeding sites.

Control:
Consult the Vegetable IPM Web Site for recommended controls of this pest. Caterpillars can be picked from plants or collected using a sweep net or drop cloth. Adults are attracted to pheromone traps or black light traps.

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Publication Revised August 2009