The Best Way to Get Rid of the Armyworms on My Tomatoes
The best way to get rid of any garden pest is by integrating several different control methods. Mixing cultural and chemical control offers a two-pronged assault on armyworms and increases your chance of successful eradication. There are a couple different types of armyworm that infest tomatoes. The beet armyworm is green with thin, light-colored stripes running down its back and a thicker white stripe running along each side. The fall armyworm ranges in color from tan or green to dark brown or even black. It has a yellow stripe running along its back and a yellow stripe running along each side. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Bucket
- Hose
- Bleach
- Gloves
- Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai insecticide
Instructions
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Hand pick the caterpillars off of plants. Use gloves if you don't want to touch them. For small infestations, this method offers good control. Drop the caterpillars in a bucket of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water to destroy them. You can also use a strong jet of water from the hose to knock caterpillars off of plants. Then, squish them on the ground or drop them in a bucket of bleach water to destroy them.
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Protect natural enemies by avoiding the use of broad spectrum insecticides. Insects like wasps, spiders and even the praying mantis kill and eat caterpillars. Broad spectrum insecticides kill predatory insects along with armyworms and may result in future infestations.
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Spray your tomatoes with an insecticide product containing the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis ssp. aizawai. According to the University of California's Integrated Pest Management program, this bacterium only targets caterpillars and is safe for humans, animals and beneficial insects. Spray according to the manufacturer's directions for whichever insecticide product you use.
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References
- Photo Credit Hemera Technologies/Photos.com/Getty Images
