Crops: Tomato Insect Pests
Beet armyworm - Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera)
- Beet Armyworm is an occasional pest in Tomato.
- Beet Armyworm are active at night and eggs are deposited in masses covered by white, feathery scales from the female.
- Beet armyworm larvae are smooth, without hairs, and vary in color from dull green to black.
- Older larvae have a broad, light-colored stripe along the side of the body and usually have two large dark spots just above the middle pair of true legs (red arrow).
- Beet armyworm egg masses are deposited randomly throughout a tomato plant, often on the underside of leaves. It is common to see many small armyworm larvae feeding on the underside of tomato leaves before they disperse throughout the plant.
- Beet armyworm is primarily a foliage feeder, but they will also attack fruit, usually creating single or closely grouped round or irregularly shaped holes.
- Feeding damage is usually superficial, and larvae only occasionally develop inside the fruit.
- It is prudent to check young plants regularly for beet armyworm egg masses or small larvae.
