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Is there a vine borer cousin attacking tomatoes? #848365

Asked September 02, 2023, 5:23 PM EDT

I have issues with squash vine borers and am highly familiar with their tiny, orangish brown eggs. But I'm finding dozens of them on my tomato plants and some on my lettuce. Are the vine borers confused? Or is there something else that has similar eggs? I mean, there's tons of them showing up every few days. And I haven't seen a vine borer in several weeks. They also look slightly lighter in color than the usual borer eggs. But otherwise they are identical in shape and size. I am having an issue with tomato pinworms, but can't find an image of what their eggs look like.

Franklin County Ohio

Expert Response

See the link below for info on tomato pinworm. Eggs are similar from the description. Not too common in OHIO. 
Not sure what is laying the eggs on your tomato plants. I suggest taking the sample in to your local extension office.

Tomato Pinworm on Vegetables | University of Maryland Extension (umd.edu)


Locate an Office | OSU Extension


Catherine Freay Replied September 04, 2023, 9:57 AM EDT
Way late follow up but sending because maybe this info will be useful to someone. The "eggs" were clover seeds, so that's something However, tomato pinworms are NOT uncommon in my area. I have a resurgence of them this year, and several Facebook gardening groups for my area are littered with tons of people finding the same.

I'm sharing this because every resource I can find says they are either uncommon, rare or not found in my area and our local extension office is impossible to submit information to unless you're a 4H member or willing to drive into the office to talk to them. I'm hoping we can find a better way to report findings so that the experts can compile accurate information because the gardening community in Ohio is baffled by how little our extension office seems to know. 



On Sat, Sep 2, 2023, 5:23 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:

Dear Beth,

Thank you for using Ask Extension. A request for support has been created and a representative will follow-up with you as soon as possible. Questions are usually answered within two business days. You can view this question's progress online.

YOUR QUESTION #0118291:

Is there a vine borer cousin attacking tomatoes?

I have issues with squash vine borers and am highly familiar with their tiny, orangish brown eggs. But I'm finding dozens of them on my tomato plants and some on my lettuce. Are the vine borers confused? Or is there something else that has similar eggs? I mean, there's tons of them showing up every few days. And I haven't seen a vine borer in several weeks. They also look slightly lighter in color than the usual borer eggs. But otherwise they are identical in shape and size. I am having an issue with tomato pinworms, but can't find an image of what their eggs look like.

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The Question Asker Replied July 08, 2024, 2:45 PM EDT
Thanks for the update.
Catherine Freay Replied July 08, 2024, 6:31 PM EDT

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