Green Tomato eating Caterpillars

Rosiland · #1 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 03:20 PM

I thought it was slugs eating my tomatoes but have just found three hairless caterpillars, a soft pale milk chocolate colour with a pale stripe. Anyone have any idea what they are? They are horrid to the touch as well.

Hedera · #2 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 03:34 PM

They are moth caterpillars, Yellow underwing or Turnip moth. commonly called cutworms as they chew anything off. They do love tomatoes!

aeshna5 · #3 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 03:58 PM

Bright-line Brown-eye moth caterpillars are also well known for attacking tomatoes.

Rosiland · #4 (**permalink**) 08-09-2011, 05:35 PM

I don't think it they are cutworms, I have had experience of those. These blighters are climbing up the fence and eating the fruit. I have lost 6 tomatoes in the past couple of days.

I am not sure of the bright line moth mentioned, I will look it up.

Thanks for the replies.

Rosiland · #5 (**permalink**) 09-09-2011, 09:12 AM

Thank you Aeshna5, you are a star. I looked up Bright-Line Brown-Eye moth and apparently it is also known as the Tomato Moth. The pics of the caterpillar are exactly the same as those found chomping on my tomatoes. I found some more this morning but at least I now know what to look out for. Thanks again.