Tomato Bugs: How They Can Harm Your Plant? 

Diseases and pets are the enemies of almost any plant because they restrict the flow and absorption of many important nutrients. Without these nutrients, then a plant’s life may be at stake.

If you really want your tomatoes to grow healthy and bear some fruits that are big, tasty and juicy, then you need to be mindful of the tomato bugs and pests that you might encounter.

1. CUTWORMS

The first nasty pest is the cutworm. They are similar to little caterpillars that like to feed on tomato plants saplings. If you have these pests on your plants, you will notice that the sapling appear like they have been cut. In order to protect your tomato plant, you can put wax paper collar around the foundation of the stem.

You can also make use of old soft drink containers or old tin cans and make them as collars. You may also stake two toothpicks on the sides of the seedlings. To eliminate these bugs, be sure that you mulch the plant accordingly.

2. WHITE FLIES

White flies bring danger to your tomato plants by excreting honeydew which is a place where fungus can develop. Adult white flies are small and may usually be seen flying around your tomato plant while the immature flies are often seen on the leaves and they appear flat, yellow, oval, and scale-like.

If you hang yellow sticky traps around your tomato plant, you can get rid of these bugs. You may also opt for horticultural oil as it smothers the white flies.

Using bug blaster and hosing your plants can also do the trick. There are a lot of good bugs or common predators found in your garden which can aid in attacking these white flies like lacewings, whitefly parasites, and ladybugs.

3. FLEA BEETLES

Dangerous and greedy, flea beetles are tomato bugs that consume stems, leaves, and even roots of the tomato plant. Similar to the white fly, if you hang dome yellow sticky traps, this will aid in lessening their numbers and putting up covers will protect the younger tomato plants.

An efficient approach to get rid of them is to put beneficial nematodes into the soil. These nematodes work by attacking the larvae of the flea beetles. In extreme and worse cases, utilizing bacterial insecticides that are strong will work, too.

4. APHIDS

Aphids may cause your leaves to turn yellow. They are also known to excrete a distinguished sticky discharge called honeydew. You will usually see them as compressed groups of small bugs that are found on the stem of the tomato plant. Aphids have also been known as the primary transmitter of many viral diseases.

In order to rid your tomato plants of this pest, it is advisable to plant some basil in close proximity to your tomatoes. Basil generates some chemicals that repel these aphids. If you want an approach that is more physical, you can also pinch off the part your tomato plant where the aphids are situated and then throw them in the garbage can.

With all the bugs and pests that can ruin the growth and health of your tomato plants, it is crucial to be mindful of these techniques in getting rid of them.

5. SPIDER MITES

Spider mites may be small, but their damage is noticeable. These little critters crawl along the stems and leaves of tomato plants, sucking out the juices and leaving behind a stippled and bronzed appearance. Don’t let their size fool you, these pests can wreak havoc on your plant’s leaf structure.

If you want to get rid of spider mites, neem oil spray is your best bet. This natural solution can help eliminate these tiny pests and prevent further damage to your tomato plants. Another option is insecticidal soap, which can also be effective in treating spider mites.

So, don’t let these pesky mites take over your tomato plants. Take action with neem oil spray or insecticidal soap and save your plants from further damage.