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tiny caterpillars on tomato plant #359472

Asked September 04, 2016, 1:13 PM EDT

Hello. I have had tons of these very tiny caterpillars on my tomato plant leaves. They stay in a little pouch they make in the leaves. I was wondering what they are and if they enter fruit. I found another tiny caterpillar crawling on a tomato, but I don't know if it was inside. I have insect damage on my tomatoes and have been paranoid they have worms in them, even though I have dissected and very closely inspected many of them and nothing has been inside. I have found army worms eating some tomatoes, but they are much larger and it was obvious. I am posting pictures of the worms and the tomatoes that were damaged. The first 2 pictures appear to be different caterpillars. I was concerned they might be tomato pinworms. Thank you for your help!

Washington County Maryland

Expert Response

This looks like an insect pest, the tomato pinworm.  Here is our pest profile on the pinworm for more information including prevention and control http://extension.umd.edu/growit/insects/tomato-pinworm
mh
Thank you for your help! I have been very careful to check the tomatoes and have never found a worm inside. Is it safe to eat them or should I throw away any with the visible damage? This is what some of them look like on the inside. No evidence that anything has been inside and the damage looks just skin deep.
The Question Asker Replied September 06, 2016, 1:18 PM EDT
It is okay to eat the tomatoes.
mh

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