i ion * [7 v 
STATE PLANT BOARD 
April 1943 E-589 
United States Department of Agriculture - - 
Agricultural Research Administration 
Bureau of Entomology and Plant Quarantine 
THE CONTROL OF THE TOMATO FRUITWORM, 2/THE TOMATO PINWORM, THE TOMATO 
RUSSET MITE, AUD HORNWORMS 
By Joseph Yfilcox and J. C. Elmore, Division of Truck 
Crop Insect Investigations 
Introduction 
Tomato plants and fruits are attacked commonly by several species of 
insects, and important among these are the tomato fruitworm, the tomato pin- 
worm, hornworms, and a new pest of tomatoes in California known as the tomato 
russet mite. It is the purpose of this circular to set forth methods of 
controlling these pests which have developed during recent years. 
The tomato fruitworm (Hel_iothi_s armg_era (Rbn . ) ) , also known as the corn 
earworm on corn and as the bollworm on cotton, is a pest of tomatoes, regu- 
larly or occasionally, in practically all sections of the United States where 
tomatoes are grown. Its principal damage to tomatoes is through the insects 
feeding on and in the tomato fruits, rendering them unmarketable. 
The tomato pinworm (Keiferia lycj^JP^J^ellj*- (Busck)) is a pest of 
tomatoes in southern California. It is known to occur in Arizona, New Mexico, 
Missouri, Florida, Mississippi. Virginia, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. In 
addition to tomatoes, this insect also occasionally attacks potato and egg- 
plant. In California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Florida' the tomato pinworm has 
been primarily a pest of f ield-grown tomatoes, whereas thus far in Missis-sippi, 
Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, and Missouri it has been present only as a 
pest of tomatoes grown in greenhouses and in tomato fields near the infested 
greenhouses. 
The tomato russet mite (Phyllocoptes destructor Keifer) was first found 
in Modesto, Calif., in 1940. ~By 1941" "it" had spTead"" over most of the San 
Joaquin and Sacramento valleys and in 1942 it was widesproad in southern 
California. Besides tomato, other host plants recorded by the University of 
California aro petunia, nightshade, Datura, potato, and morning-glory. This 
mite is minute in size, and its presence on the plant can be detected only by 
a microscopic examination. However, the injury caused by its feeding is 
readily recognizable. The plants are first attacked at the base and the 
leaves develop a bronze appearance before they die. During warm weather the 
mites increase very rapidly and can kill a vine or a whole field in a few 
weeks if control measures are not applied promptly. 
l/ This supersedes Circular E-489"7"Suggestions for the Control of the 
Tomato Fruitworm, which was issued in September 1939. 
