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Tomato Pests & Diseases

What is this eating my tomato plant leaves?

12 years ago

I found them on the plants when they were on a table in the yard for a couple of days before planting. The dark body is about 1/4" long. I have had them in previous years and they also eat the leaves of pepper plants. What is a treatment to get rid of them?

Thanks,

Don

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Comments (3)

jean001a
12 years ago
Tortoise beetles. If only a few, flick into soapy water.
don_ma
Original Author
12 years ago
Jean,

Thanks, that's it. The first thing I thought when I saw them is they look like a turtle. When I searched "turtle insect tomatoes" on Google earlier and saw tortoise beetles the pictures didn't look enough like this one. I did more searches and found a picture of the exact kind after I read your post. Will BTK kill them if they become a problem? In past years they were more of a problem on pepper plants and not tomato plants but I don't have any pepper plants this year.

Thanks,
Don
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jean001a
12 years ago
You asked "Will BTK kill them"

Nope. That stuff works against caterpillars, half-grown or younger.

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