Tomatoes-black hole

[country lady]

I am finding tomatoes, before they ripen, with a hole. Then the hole turns black. It's not blossom end rot or the regular tomato hornworm. The hole is anywhere on the tomato but the stem area. Japanese beetles are on my green beans nearby. Could it be the beetles laying eggs? For some reason I thought the beetles lay eggs in the ground--or am I wrong on that? Anyone else having this problem or know what it is?

 

[momofdrew]

Beetles lay their eggs in the ground...if it isnt hornworm I have no idea what it would be ...call your extention service to see if they are aware of some new pest...

 

[vfem]

I have a few like that too... I haven't caught exactly who's doing it, someone munching on them when they're still green in just one spot. We mainly have stink bugs causing the damage to the unripe tomatoes... but it sounds like another beetle is getting them.

 

[hoodat]

Sounds loke pickleworm to me. They eat a hole in the skin and then eat the insides of the green tomato. There will usually be soft messy droppings around the hole.The hole lets bacteria into the tomato which then rots. BT will take care of them but you have to use it before they get inside the tomato. Go over your tomatos, remove and destroy any fruit showing a hole in it, then spray the entire plant with BT.
http://www.forestryimages.org/browse/detail.cfm?imgnum=1435108

 

[country lady]

My gosh, I've never heard of a pickleworm. I haven't noticed any droppings, but then I haven't looked either. Pickleworm sounds right. I did see a worm in one tomato. I've thrown away quite a few tomatoes. Thanks.

 

[chris09]

Armyworms
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...167&ty=146&page=2&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:4,s:28

Chris

 

[hoodat]

That's certainly another possibility. Those are closely related to cornear worms that spoil your sweet corn.

 

[country lady]

Either way, you both could be right. I started heirloom seeds in the house but bought either 4 or 6 individual plants from Wal-mart, Bonnie plants, so likely the plants came from Alabama or down south. My heirloom plants grew as big as the ones I bought and seem okay so I have some checking to do. Thanks.

 

[momofdrew]

THose Army worms dont come this far north do they??? nasty looking bugger