What's eating my 'san marzano' tomato?

'San Marzano' is a classic paste tomato vulnerable to hornworms, aphids, and Colorado potato beetles, which all attack the foliage, and to fruitworms that tunnel inside developing fruits. Its thin-walled fruits split easily after heavy rain, which can invite secondary pests. Scout from transplant through harvest.

Rapid defoliation; large green caterpillars with white stripes; dark frass on leaves. Hand-pick; apply Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis); leave white-cocoon-covered hornworms — parasitic wasps are working.

Entry holes near the stem end of fruit; larvae feed inside, causing rot and early drop. Apply Bt or spinosad spray targeting small larvae; remove and destroy affected fruit; use pheromone traps to monitor.

Sticky honeydew on foliage; curled yellowing leaves; virus transmission risk. Insecticidal soap spray; strong water blast; attract beneficial insects with companion flowers.

Yellow-and-black striped adults and orange-red larvae skeletonize leaves rapidly. Hand-pick eggs, larvae, and adults daily; apply Bt var. tenebrionis or spinosad; rotate solanaceous crops annually.