Pest identification
What's eating my 'green zebra' tomato?
Tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata)
Signs: Stripped stems and missing foliage; damage is less visible on green-fruited plants so check carefully.
Control: Hand-pick; apply Bt kurstaki at dusk; UV light at night can reveal hornworms (they fluoresce).
Aphids
Signs: Sticky deposits; curled shoot tips; green aphids especially hard to spot against green foliage.
Control: Inspect leaf undersides weekly; insecticidal soap spray; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop.
Tomato fruitworm / corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea)
Signs: Entry hole near the shoulder of fruit; larvae inside cause rot that is hard to see on green skin.
Control: Spinosad or Bt spray targeting young larvae; remove and bin affected fruit; pheromone traps to time sprays.
Slugs & snails
Signs: Ragged holes in low-hanging fruit and lower leaves; silvery slime trails.
Control: Raise fruit off soil with cages; iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at night.
Keep 'green zebra' tomato pest-free
Healthy plants resist pests best. Get the basics right:
'Green Zebra' Tomato pests — FAQ
What is eating my 'green zebra' tomato?
'Green Zebra' tomato stays green when ripe, making it harder to spot bird and hornworm damage against the foliage. Aphids, hornworms, and fruitworms are the primary pests. Because the fruit colour blends in, growers often discover damage late. Squeeze gently to test ripeness and scout foliage at least twice a week.
How do I get rid of tomato hornworm (manduca quinquemaculata) on 'green zebra' tomato?
Stripped stems and missing foliage; damage is less visible on green-fruited plants so check carefully. Hand-pick; apply Bt kurstaki at dusk; UV light at night can reveal hornworms (they fluoresce).
How do I get rid of aphids on 'green zebra' tomato?
Sticky deposits; curled shoot tips; green aphids especially hard to spot against green foliage. Inspect leaf undersides weekly; insecticidal soap spray; companion-plant with nasturtiums as a trap crop.
How do I get rid of tomato fruitworm / corn earworm (helicoverpa zea) on 'green zebra' tomato?
Entry hole near the shoulder of fruit; larvae inside cause rot that is hard to see on green skin. Spinosad or Bt spray targeting young larvae; remove and bin affected fruit; pheromone traps to time sprays.
How do I get rid of slugs & snails on 'green zebra' tomato?
Ragged holes in low-hanging fruit and lower leaves; silvery slime trails. Raise fruit off soil with cages; iron phosphate pellets; hand-pick at night.