Cabbage Looper

Cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) Credit: Biovision-Infonet In addition to the cotton leaf worm (see fruit borers), other caterpillars such as the cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) feed on tomato leaves. However, generally they are not of economic importance. The cabbage looper is a green caterpillar with faint white stripes along the body. Caterpillars are about 3.5 to 4 […]

Russet Mite

Tomato russet mite (Aculops lycopersici) Credit: Biovision-Infonet They are very tiny, approximately 0.2 mm long, and cannot be seen with the naked eye. They are yellowish, brown or pink. They have a ringed conical body with the head and two pairs of legs at the large end. They complete the lifecycle in 1 week; this […]

Mirid Bug

Tomato mirid bug (Nesidiocoris tenuis) Credit: Biovision-Infonet It is slender, greenish in colour with a dark brown tint on the forewings. Eggs are laid singly on the growing points, petioles and stems of the tomato plant. The young bugs (nymphs) resemble the adults, but initially have no wings. Older nymphs have wing pads. The tomato […]

Spider mites

Spider mites (Tetranychus spp.) Credit: Biovision-Infonet Spider mites are important pests of tomatoes. They are more prevalent in dry areas. Infested leaves show a white to yellow speckling and then turn pale or bronzed. High spider mite infestation causes defoliation, which leads to production of smaller fruits with lower content of ascorbic acid (vitamin C). Spider […]

Fruit Borers

Fruit borers (Helicoverpa armiguera, Spodoptera littoralis) Credit: Biovision-Infonet Fruit borers such as the African bollworm (Helicoverpa armigera) and leaf-eating caterpillars such as the cotton leafworm (Spodoptera littoralis) attack the developing and mature fruit of tomato. The African bollworm, also known as the tomato fruit worm, is one of the most destructive insect pests of tomato, causing yield losses as […]

Leafminer

Leafminers (Liriomyza spp.) Credit: Biovision-Infonet Leafmining flies make tiny punctures on the side of tomato leaves when feeding and laying eggs. These punctures may serve as entry point for disease causing organisms such as bacteria and fungi. The most destructive stages are the immature stages (maggots). Maggots measure up to 3 mm in length. The maggots feed […]

Tuta Absoluta

Tuta absoluta (tomato leaf miner) Credit: Biovision-Infonet Tuta absoluta is a new insect pest of tomato plant in sub Saharan Africa. The moth pest originated from Peru and has spread to Europe, Africa and Asia. In Africa, T. absoluta was detected in Tunisia (2009), Ethiopia (2012), Senegal (2013), Sudan (2010) , Tanzania and Kenya (2014) and in Uganda […]

Thrips

Thrips (Thrips tabaci, Frankliniella occidentalis, F. schultzeii and Ceratothripoides brunneus) Thrips may also be a problem in tomatoes in Kenya. Thrips are small (about 1 to 2 mm long). They usually feed on the lower surface of leaves puncturing them and suck the exuding sap. They also attack buds, flowers and fruits. Attacked leaves have a silvery […]

Tobacco Whitefly

Tobacco whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) Credit: Biovision-Infonet Tobacco whitefly is a serious pest of tomatoes. Whiteflies attack tomatoes from seedling to mature stage. They suck sap from the leaves, and may weaken the plants. Feeding of whiteflies cause yellowing of infested leaves. Immature stages (nymphs) produce honeydew on which sooty mould grows. Heavy honeydew or mould […]