Why do caterpillars appear on tomatoes and how to deal with them?

The appearance of caterpillars on tomatoes can be a serious threat to the future harvest, which is why it is worth figuring out as soon as possible how to deal with them in the greenhouse and in the open field. Getting rid of gray and green pests on tomatoes can be tricky. To understand what folk remedies and other methods of struggle really work in this case, a complete overview of the most effective techniques will help.

In the conditions of central Russia, caterpillars on tomatoes appear only from eggs laid by two species of butterflies. Most often these are green scoops and whiteflies, relatively small in size, but very voracious. They parasitize tomatoes as well as other vegetables. Despite the fact that the pests are quite small, their appearance poses a serious danger to the entire garden.

These insects are active at night. An adult butterfly has a gray-brown color, wingspan up to 45 mm. The scoop is attracted by the inflorescences of tomatoes, the nectar of which they feed on. The moth also lays eggs on fruits and leaves. Moreover, she is quite fertile, in 2-4 weeks she manages to lay up to 1000 eggs.

The caterpillars emerging from them have a rich color. – from green to black. It takes 2 to 12 days for the larvae to emerge from the egg. Caterpillars are not too picky about their food source. They readily absorb any parts of the plant, gain a body length of 50 mm for 40 days, and then go through the pupation stage, burrowing underground.

In the climate of central Russia, the scoop manages to raise offspring twice during the warm season. She is especially interested in ovaries and fruits. In the second generation, eggs are laid directly on the fruits, the larvae feed on them, gnawing the passages inside.

This species is characterized by a miniature size (no more than 3 cm in length), a white, pale shade of the body and wings. In the southern regions, these insects are found on crops in open ground, in colder climates they are present in greenhouses. Usually these butterflies move in flocks, clinging to the lower parts of the plant, sucking the juices from the shoots. During the formation of fruits, the defeat affects them as well.

The female whitefly is capable of laying up to 200 eggs in its habitat, and within a year she leaves offspring up to 10 times. The larvae emerging from them develop into an adult insect within 40 days. Their small size allows them to remain unnoticed for a long time, while the damage caused by the tracks is simply enormous. An additional problem is the secret secreted by this type of insect - it is a favorable environment for the development of fungal infections.

A regularity was revealed in the manifestation of the activity of whiteflies with a change in atmospheric temperatures. They stop multiplying when these indicators decrease to +10 degrees. The butterflies themselves also become less active.

Caterpillars on tomatoes are a serious problem for gardeners.The reasons for the appearance of pests are quite diverse, but many of them are directly related to improper care of plants or the site itself. The most obvious risk factors for attracting pests can be identified.

1. Incorrect processing of the site. Insufficiently careful digging of the soil leads to the fact that butterfly pupae remain in the ground, successfully wintering in such conditions. The cultivation of the soil in the autumn and spring periods should be given special attention.
2. The presence of weeds in the flowering phase nearby. It is very important to deal with them during the period of growing tomatoes. Blooming weeds located nearby attract pests. This leads to the massive spread of caterpillars, the defeat of cultivated plants.
3. High planting density. The closer and denser the plants are, the more difficult it is to track pests. This significantly speeds up the infection process. An abundant food base attracts insects, contributes to the development and spread of concomitant fungal diseases.
4. Improperly equipped greenhouses. In the presence of through openings and vents for ventilation, not protected by nets, heat-loving whiteflies penetrate through them.
5. Refusal from preventive measures. By eliminating spraying with chemicals or other agents that scare away butterflies, you can simply not wait for the harvest.

The main signs that make it possible to understand that a whitefly has settled on tomatoes are quite obvious. The butterfly leaves a characteristic whitish bloom on the leaves. In case of significant damage, it also eats fruits. In this case, such deposits can also be seen inside the tomato. The scoop gnaws holes in the trunk and fruits, destroys the inflorescences.

Common signs that whitefly butterflies have appeared in a greenhouse or open field are the following:

• white streaks on the cut of the fruit;
• an increase in the ripening time of tomatoes;
• the presence of light, yellow spots on the surface of the sheet;
• blackening and twisting of shoots;
• detection of parasites directly on plants.

The main difficulty in identifying moth caterpillars is their nocturnal lifestyle. In the daytime, they are practically inactive. You can identify the presence of green caterpillars in a greenhouse or in the beds by paying attention to the formation of uneven holes on the leaves, shoots, buds. Inside the fruit, on the cut, you can also see the holes gnawed by them, making the tomatoes unsuitable for human consumption.

When deciding to get rid of caterpillars on tomatoes, it is necessary to prepare for a systematic struggle from the very beginning. It is possible to save the planting only in a complex manner, most often it is necessary to do more than one approach to spraying chemicals, since the pests breed several generations of offspring. It will not work just to process fruiting tomatoes either - in this case, it is necessary to select methods and methods of struggle especially carefully. It is better to spray them with biological agents that are safe for the further development of plants.

Saving plants from the whitefly can be hindered by the rapid adaptation of this butterfly to the effects of chemicals. Even during the season, it is possible to destroy the pest only with a regular change of the means with which to poison the insects. There are no universal formulations that allow you to simply spray tomato bushes so that the pests disappear.

The most effective means of controlling caterpillars on tomatoes are industrial insecticides. They are used as a preventive measure, as well as directly for the destruction of emerging insects. The main disadvantage of such formulations is their ability to accumulate in the organs of the plant. The average period for clearing crops from pesticides is 20-30 days. Accordingly, they can be applied no later than a month before the start of fruiting.

Among the chemicals that have shown themselves most effectively in the fight against caterpillars, several drugs can be distinguished.

• "Decis". The drug has an extremely low toxicity, gives a quick result. Suitable for preventive treatment of tomatoes during the growing season.

• Aktara. The well-known remedy for Colorado beetles also works well against the whitefly butterfly. Watering is carried out in the root zone. Spraying branches and leaves is not required.

• Biostop. The drug is focused on fighting the scoop at any stage of its development. Apply it in advance, before flowering. The composition is suitable for eliminating tracks.

Working with pesticides, especially in greenhouses, requires careful adherence to safety measures. It is necessary to observe the dosage, use protective equipment. Only by following all the manufacturer's recommendations can you get a good result.

In the fight against caterpillars of scoops and whiteflies on tomatoes, you can use less aggressive methods of their destruction. "Leptocid" belongs to the drugs of biological influence. This remedy is aimed at destroying the larvae of different types of butterflies; it gives a deterrent effect against adult insects. Spraying is carried out superficially, during the vegetative development of plants, the composition is characterized by a short period of elimination without a persistent cumulative effect.

The drug "Bitoxibacillin" has a similar effect. It is better to use it repeatedly, with a week break. And also their natural enemy, trichogramma, does a good job of breeding caterpillars. This predator can be purchased in specialized stores, and then simply populated into a greenhouse or plot. During the season, the population will have to be updated three times.

Experienced gardeners often find not the most trivial means and methods of struggle that can become a good alternative to pesticides. Among the well-proven options, several popular ones can be distinguished.

1. Infusion of mustard powder. For this, 100 g of dried and crushed plant is steamed in 10 liters of water, left for 2 days. The resulting solution is sprayed with shoots and leaves of the plant.
2. Saline solution. In high concentration, it is deadly to caterpillars. The mixture is prepared from 5 liters of warm water and 400 g of salt. The finished composition is sprayed with tomato bushes. For better adhesion, you can add liquid soap to the solution.
3. Wormwood infusion. It is prepared from freshly cut shoots of a plant, filling a bucket with 1/3 of them. Then wormwood is poured with water, simmer over low heat for 30 minutes. After that, the broth is sent to infuse for 2 days, and then filtered, diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

It is believed that less labor-intensive means can be used as a preventive measure against caterpillar attacks. For example, plant nearby plants that scare away butterflies with their scent that are ready to lay eggs. The following types of green defenders help well against scoops and whiteflies:

• calendula;
• coriander;
• celery.

These plants are rich in essential oils and exude a strong and pungent aroma. They scare away butterflies flying in search of food. This protection works best in open ground conditions. In this case, you can place "marigolds" around the perimeter of the garden, and place coriander and celery among the tomato bushes.

An interesting effect is produced by sowing white mustard in early spring. It is a green manure plant that improves soil composition. Its first shoots are dug up together with the soil, at the same time destroying possible insect clutches. In this area, tomatoes will grow more abundantly.

When processing whitefly tomatoes in a greenhouse, it is important to spray, paying special attention to the back of the leaves, the root zone. It is here that the center of attraction for this species of butterflies is located. When placed in open ground, it is important to pay maximum attention to weed control and the quality of soil digging.

Here are some helpful tips for treating caterpillar tomatoes.

1. Watering with potassium permanganate in autumn and spring. Crystals of the substance are dissolved in boiling water. Then it sheds soil at the site of future plantings in order to destroy the pupae and clutches of pests.
2. Thinning seedlings. Thickened plantings of tomatoes form a favorable breeding ground for insects.
3. Manual collection. If there are a lot of caterpillars, large specimens must be removed, destroyed, without leaving them on the plants. It is better to conduct an inspection in the morning and evening hours.
4. Spraying and watering up to 17 hours. This will allow excess moisture to evaporate before the air temperature drops.
5. Use of modern sprayers. The finer the spray is applied, the more effective the treatment will be. This is important if special insecticidal preparations are used.

You should carefully study the instructions, as well as pay attention to the manufacturer's recommendations for the use of the drug. Some products are intended only for root application, others for spraying shoots.

The following video will tell you why caterpillars appear on tomatoes and how to deal with them.