Name that Pest! Please help my tomato

11 years ago

Hello everyone!

I have an heirloom tomato, with 1 fruit in particular that is suffering. Strangely enough, all the other fruits seem to be perfectly fine. I've attached photos of the affected fruit, as well as a bug that I caught on it. Is this a bug that you recognize, and if so is it likely to be the culprit?

I've also done some reading on blossom end rot, and there may be a little of that going on too, but with all those other little spots going on I can't help but think that there is a bug to blame as well.

Let me know what you all think please. Thank you!!

Featured Answer

digdirt2

11 years ago

I suppose it might one of the parasitic wasps or more likely one of the many leaf-foot bugs as they do suck on fruit. But it's really not enough of a close up on the bug to be sure. But whatever he/she is they aren't the primary problem. That fruit has BER (blossom end rot) and needs to be pitched anyway.

Dave

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Comments (11)

Vince (8) Kemper
11 years ago
Could be stink bug, but it does have the BER.
Jessica Aguirre thanked Vince (8) Kemper
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Jessica Aguirre
Original Author
11 years ago
Oh ok, so the process for BER is to remove the fruit, yes? Sorry, I'm new to tomatoes :)
hoosier40 6a Southern IN
11 years ago
The tomato is not going to be any good and is taking resources from the plant so might as well pluck it and pitch it.
Seysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
11 years ago
Yes, as Vince said, I also think that there is a BER, aside from the bug.

Sey
Vince (8) Kemper
11 years ago
I think she wants to know what to do about the bug or bugs, does anyone know what to do if they're stink bugs because I don't. Jessica BER usually gets better in time, I get BER early in the year and gets better. Good luck.
digdirt2
11 years ago
The bug, without knowing for sure what it is, doesn't require any action at all. Especially if it is only one. It can be squished with the fingers if necessary but it could just as easily be a beneficial as a bad guy. We'd need a much better pic of just the bug to begin to ID it.

While a plant may mature enough that no further BER fruit develop (assuming all other conditions are met) the BER already in the fruit doesn't get better, doesn't go away once it is there. It only gets blacker and more rotten. So yeah, any fruit with BER symptoms get picked and tossed as soon as you find them.

Dave
jean001a
11 years ago
The insect is not a stink bug. But it's unlikely to be a problem. If you're stressed, squish it. One less bug won't affect the population, even if it is beneficial.
ncrealestateguy
11 years ago
Looks like a immature, pupae stage of an adult. Most insects in this stage do not eat.
Labradors
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
But it has legs!!!! (or else my monitor is covered in dog hair!)

Linda
digdirt2
11 years ago
Yeah it has legs. It isn't a pupae stage (which is a cocoon) nor a larval stage. It may be an instar stage of one of the many leaf-foots. There are 100's of sub-species and most have 5 different instar stages.

Dave