Tomatoes are a delicious and nutritious fruit that can be enjoyed in many different ways. However, if you notice small holes in your tomato leaves, it could be a sign that insects or animals are snacking on them.
While this is not necessarily harmful to the plant, it can cause the leaves to become damaged and eventually die. In this article, we will discuss what could be eating small holes in your tomato leaves and how to treat the problem.
What is eating small holes in my tomato leaves: Insects
There are a few different types of insects that are known to eat tomato leaves. These include:
- Aphids
- Leaf miners
- Tomato hornworms
- Flea beetles
- Fruitworms
1. Aphids
Aphids are small, pear-shaped insects that are typically green or black in colour.
They feed on the sap of plants, which can cause the leaves to become discoloured and distorted. Aphids can also transmit diseases from one plant to another.
2. Leaf miners
Leaf miners are small larvae that tunnel through the leaves of plants, causing damage as they go. The damage caused by leaf miners can make the leaves appear “skeletonized.”
3. Tomato hornworms
Tomato hornworms are large caterpillars that can cause significant damage to tomato plants. They are typically green in colour with white stripes running down their sides.
And one thing that you need to know about these notorious pests is that they can be pretty elusive, thanks to their camouflaging appearance.
4. Flea beetles
Flea beetles are small, blackish beetles that jump when they are disturbed. These pests feed on the leaves of plants, causing them to appear “shot-hole” or “stippled.”
In addition to eating the leaves, flea beetles can also transmit diseases from one plant to another.
5. Fruitworms
Even though they are commonly loathed for damaging tomato fruits by tunnelling through them, fruit worms are also known to munch on leaves, making small holes. This mainly happens when the fruits are small.
One thing to keep in mind is that the holes can be quite hard to notice at first, but as the worms continue feeding, the holes will become obvious.
How to Treat Tomato Leaves for Insects
If you notice small holes in your tomato leaves, it is important to take action immediately in order to prevent further damage. There are a few different ways that you can treat tomato leaves for insects, including:
Insecticides
There are different forms of insecticides such as sprays, powders, and granules that come in handy when fighting insects that ruin tomato leaves. The right insecticide will vary depending on the type of pests that you are dealing with.
Aphids: Neem oil works perfectly when you have an aphid infestation in plants. The best thing is that it’s organic. However, you will want to use it early in the morning or late in the afternoon so that the leaves of your plants won’t burn.
Leaf miners: You can use pyrethrin or spinosad to kill leaf miners. Pyrethrin will kill leaf miners as soon as they start leaving the eggs to eat the leaves. It’s recommended that you use the spot treatment method to kill leaf miners as opposed to blanketing the entire garden. Spinosad, on the other hand, will kill the larva of leaf miners.
Tomato hornworms: To kill tomato hornworms, you can use Bacillus Thuringiensis or Bt for short. This is a bacteria that is found in the soil and it’s effective in killing caterpillars. If, however, you’d rather go the insecticide way, use spinosad.
Flea beetles: You can use pyrethrin if you prefer organic insecticides, or Sevin Killer concentrate if organic farming is not your thing.
Fruitworms: Spinosad will work perfectly if you want to eliminate the fruitworms that keep bugging your tomato plants. Be careful, however, since it also kills the beneficial insects in your garden.
Natural remedies
If you are not a fan of using chemicals, there are some natural remedies that you can use to get rid of the insects eating your tomato leaves.
1. Dish soap solution
One popular natural remedy is to use a mixture of dish soap and water. This will work well against aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. All you need to do is mix equal parts of dish soap and water in a spray bottle and then use it on the affected plants.
2. Garlic spray
You can also use garlic spray to keep pests at bay. To make this spray, you need to mix 1 minced garlic clove with 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of mineral oil. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours, then strain it and transfer it to a spray bottle. You can use this spray on your plants every few days.
3. Predator insects
Another way to get rid of the insects that are eating small holes in your tomato leaves is to introduce their natural enemies into your garden. For example, ladybugs love to eat aphids, so if you have an aphid problem, releasing ladybugs into your garden is a good idea.
Animals That Like to Eat Tomato Leaves
Sometimes, the holes in your tomato leaves are not caused by insects but by animals. The most common culprits are:
- Rabbits
- Deer
- Woodchucks
- Raccoons
- Chipmunks
1. Rabbits
Rabbits are known to be neat eaters and will usually only eat the part of the plant that they need. However, in some cases, they can strip a whole tomato plant – young seedling especially – down to the stem. Keep in mind also, that they feed a lot during early morning hours, in the evening, or at night.
2. Deer
Deer will eat just about anything, including the leaves of your tomato plants. Unlike rabbits, they are not particular about what they eat and will often strip the whole plant, leaves and all. If you don’t see them feeding, you should be able to know that they are the culprits if you see their tracks around your plants.
3. Woodchucks
Woodchucks, also known as groundhogs, are squirrel-like animals that enjoy eating both vegetables and fruits. One annoying fact about them is that they are messy eaters and will trample plants as they eat.
4. Raccoons
Raccoons are nocturnal animals that are known to eat just about anything, including the leaves of your tomato plants. Keep in mind that raccoons are typically smart and can be quite challenging to control.
5. Chipmunks
Chipmunks are small, squirrel-like animals that enjoy eating both vegetables and fruits. They are known to be particularly fond of sweet tomatoes, leaving the main plant alone. They can also be a tad difficult to control.
How to stop animals from eating tomato leaves
If you think that animals are eating the leaves of your tomato plants, there are a few things that you can do to stop them.
1. Fence them out
One of the best ways to keep animals away from your tomato plants is to build a fence around your garden. A simple wire fence will do the trick, but you can also opt for a more sturdy electric fence, especially for woodchucks, squirrels, and chipmunks.
Be sure to mind the height of the animal in question when building your fence.
2. Use scare tactics
You can also use scare tactics to keep animals away from your tomato plants. For example, you can put up a fake owl or hawk in your garden. You can also try hanging CDs on the fence or stringing up streamers. The idea is to make the area as uninviting as possible for the animals.
3. Use traps
Trapping is another option that you have for keeping animals away from your tomato plants. There are a number of different types of traps that you can use, including live traps, snap traps and cage traps. Be sure to check your local laws to see if there are any restrictions on the type of trap that you can use.
4. Use repellents
Repellents can also be effective in keeping animals away from your tomato plants. There are a number of different types of repellents that you can use, including those that are made with predator urine, hot pepper flakes, or garlic.
5. Barking dog
If you have a dog, letting them bark in the garden can also help to keep animals away. The sound of a barking dog will often be enough to keep animals away.
6. Motion-activated sprinkler
Another option that you have is to use a motion-activated sprinkler. These sprinklers will activate when they sense movement, and the sudden burst of water will often be enough to scare animals away.
7. Plant in containers
If you are really worried about animals getting to your tomato plants, you can always plant them in containers. This way, you can keep them on a porch or in a garage, and the animals will not be able to get to them.
8. Place wire cages over plants
Another option is to place wire cages over the plants. This will keep animals from being able to get to the plant as a whole.
Related Article: How to Get Thick Stems on Tomato Plants?