Bug on tomato - Ask Extension
Please identify this bug. Is it causing the rust and yellow scaling on the leaves? Can it affect the fruit? It is similar to the stink bug that inf...
Knowledgebase
Bug on tomato #872776
Asked June 12, 2024, 10:54 AM EDT
Please identify this bug. Is it causing the rust and yellow scaling on the leaves? Can it affect the fruit? It is similar to the stink bug that infests tomatoes but does not exactly match. The ones I’m able catch, I drown in jar of soap water. Thank you for your response.
Fort Bend County Texas
Expert Response
The bug is a leaffooted bug. The damage is similar to stink bug damage. The bug mostly affects the fruit. The insects have piercing-sucking mouthparts and puncture fruit or seeds to suck out plant juices. The bite of the bug causes yellow speckling on the tomato when it is ripe. The opening left behind can allow access to secondary invaders or rot.
Leaffooted bugs are common pests of tomatoes and potatoes, rarely causing damage on cucurbits. Bugs are large (to about 3/4 inch), browinsh to gray, with backs flattened and shield shaped. Hind legs are prominently flattened. Feeding damage causes speckling and spotting of tomato fruit
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/problem-solvers/cucurbit-problem-solver/cucurbit-insects/leaffooted-bug
When you take the tomato out put it in the garbage.
Jim, Larry and Leslie
Leaffooted bugs are common pests of tomatoes and potatoes, rarely causing damage on cucurbits. Bugs are large (to about 3/4 inch), browinsh to gray, with backs flattened and shield shaped. Hind legs are prominently flattened. Feeding damage causes speckling and spotting of tomato fruit
https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/problem-solvers/cucurbit-problem-solver/cucurbit-insects/leaffooted-bug
Best Ways to Control
There are three ways you can manage these insects:
- hand-picking (be sure to wear gloves if utilizing this method),
- sucking off the plant with a hand-held vacuum,
- spraying plants with pesticides. If choosing to use a pesticide, read the product label and make sure it can be used in the area you are treating (i.e. vegetable garden). Once they are adults spraying is not very effective.
- https://travis-tx.tamu.edu/2021/08/23/leaffooted-bugs-common-in-summer-vegetable-gardens/
When you take the tomato out put it in the garbage.
Jim, Larry and Leslie