{"crop":"tomato","count":51,"pests":[{"crop":"tomato","pest":"bacterial-canker","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Brown leaf margin scorch starting on one side of the plant; wilting that does not recover overnight; brown discoloration in stem vascular bundles when cut. Seedborne; spreads through pruning wounds and splash dispersal.","organicManagement":["Plant certified disease-free seed.","Hot-water seed treatment (50C for 25 minutes) sanitizes saved seed.","Remove and destroy infected plants immediately.","Avoid wounding plants during management; sterilize tools."],"prevention":"Seed source. Sanitation.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"beet-leafhopper","type":"pest","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Small (3 mm) pale yellow-green leafhoppers, wedge-shaped, with subtle dark markings on wings. The major vector of beet curly top virus (BCTV), which causes severe upward leaf curl, stunting, and crop failure on tomato, pepper, bean, and sugar beet. Even brief feeding by a viruliferous leafhopper produces BCTV. The leafhopper itself does not cause significant direct damage.","organicManagement":["Floating row cover on tomato, pepper, and bean transplants from planting through bloom; main vector activity window.","Maintain landscape diversity around vegetable beds; monoculture rangelands favor curly top epidemics.","Source virus-tested transplants; do not save seed from BCTV-symptomatic plants."],"prevention":"Avoid planting susceptible crops adjacent to dry rangeland or weedy lots, the leafhopper's overwintering reservoir. Plant resistant tomato cultivars where available.","regions":["western-us","arid","central-us"],"source":"UC IPM Online"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"eastern-gray-squirrel","type":"pest","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Gray squirrel 40 to 50 cm long including tail. Highly destructive on tomato (takes bites from multiple fruit without consuming any), sweet corn (peels back husks), sunflower heads, tree fruit, and nut crops. Strips bulbs and root vegetables. Climbs almost any barrier.","organicManagement":["Hardware cloth cages over individual high-value tomato and sunflower plantings.","Bird netting over fruit trees, secured to the trunk; squirrels learn to climb over open netting.","Repellents (capsaicin sprays, predator urine) provide only short-term suppression.","Manage bird feeders within 30 m of vegetable beds, which serve as food anchors for squirrel populations."],"prevention":"Remove bird feeders during fruit and vegetable peak season. Prune fruit tree limbs back from buildings and adjacent tall trees to deny climbing access.","regions":["eastern-us","midwest","northern-us"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"fusarium-wilt","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"One-sided yellowing then wilting, often starting on one branch and progressing up. Brown vascular discoloration when stem is cut. Plant typically dies within 2-3 weeks once wilt is visible.","organicManagement":["No organic cure; remove and destroy infected plants.","Solarize the bed with clear plastic for 6-8 weeks of midsummer sun."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (look for F, FF, or FFF designation). Five-year rotation away from all nightshades. Avoid working beds when soil is wet.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"late-blight","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Water-soaked dark green to brown blotches on leaves with pale-green halos. White downy growth on leaf undersides in humid conditions. Fruit develop dark greasy-looking patches. Whole plants collapse within days in cool wet weather.","organicManagement":["Copper-based fungicide (OMRI-listed) as a preventive when forecast turns cool and wet; rarely effective once symptoms appear.","Remove and bag infected plants immediately; do not compost.","Sanitize stakes, cages, and tools."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (Mountain Magic, Defiant, Iron Lady). Avoid overhead watering. Provide airflow. Destroy volunteer tomato and potato plants. Buy certified disease-free seed potatoes.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; USDA-APHIS late blight monitoring"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-yellow-leaf-curl-virus","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"Yellowing and upward leaf curl with leaf cupping; severe stunting and reduced flowering. Whitefly-vectored; spreads rapidly through whitefly populations.","organicManagement":["Plant TYLCV-resistant cultivars where available.","Aggressive whitefly management with yellow sticky traps and insecticidal soap.","Use insect netting on plants during high-pressure periods.","Remove infected plants immediately."],"prevention":"Cultivar selection. Whitefly management. Sanitation.","regions":["southern-us","humid-subtropical"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"verticillium-wilt","type":"disease","severity":"severe","symptoms":"V-shaped yellow patches on lower leaves spreading upward. Brown vascular discoloration in stems and roots. Wilting in midday heat with partial recovery overnight. Plants survive but produce reduced fruit.","organicManagement":["No organic cure; remove infected plants.","Solarize the bed for 6-8 weeks in midsummer."],"prevention":"Plant resistant varieties (V designation). Long rotation away from nightshades, strawberries, and stone fruit. Verticillium has a wide host range, so a 5-year break is conservative.","regions":["all"],"source":"WSU Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"aphid-foxglove","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Shiny green aphids 2 to 3 mm long with a dark spot at the base of each cornicle. Strong toxic feeding response: leaves yellow and pucker dramatically even at low aphid densities. Common in cool greenhouses and high tunnels. Vectors potato leafroll virus.","organicManagement":["Release parasitoid wasps (Aphidius ervi) at 0.5 wasps per square meter weekly in greenhouses and tunnels.","Apply insecticidal soap to leaf undersides; pay attention to growing tips where colonies concentrate.","Foxglove aphid migrates quickly when disturbed; repeated low-impact sprays are more effective than a single heavy application."],"prevention":"Inspect transplants for hitchhikers before moving into protected culture. Manage tunnel temperatures between 18 and 22 C if possible; foxglove aphid populations explode below 15 C.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"blister-beetle","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Soft-bodied beetles 10 to 25 mm long with elongate cylindrical body, narrow neck, and large head. Color varies by species: black, gray, striped, or with red and yellow markings. Aggregate in destructive groups on tomato, potato, alfalfa, and many vegetable crops. Contain cantharidin, a blistering agent toxic to livestock if ingested in alfalfa hay.","organicManagement":["Handpick beetles wearing gloves (cantharidin can blister bare skin); drop into soapy water. Knock beetles into a bucket using a stick.","Floating row cover during outbreak periods (usually mid-summer following grasshopper years; blister beetle larvae are grasshopper egg predators).","Kaolin clay protectant on tomato and potato during outbreak periods."],"prevention":"Manage grasshopper populations in adjacent rangeland; blister beetle outbreaks track grasshopper egg abundance. Inspect alfalfa hay before feeding to horses.","regions":["central-us","western-us","southern-us"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"brown-marmorated-stink-bug","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Adults 17 mm long, shield-shaped, marbled brown above with alternating dark and light bands on the antennae and abdominal edge. Highly polyphagous: tree fruit, vegetables, ornamentals. Feeding causes deep dimples, brown depressions, and corky tissue on fruit and pods; on pepper and apple the damage is visible at harvest as 'cat-facing'. Major overwintering household nuisance.","organicManagement":["Pyramid traps (commercial: Rescue, Trece) baited with aggregation pheromone effective for monitoring; some suppression in dense traplines.","Floating row cover on tomato, pepper, and bean from flowering through harvest.","Kaolin clay (Surround WP) at 50 lb per acre weekly on apple, pear, and peach during fruit development.","Vacuum bugs from foliage in small plantings, especially on overwintering aggregations on building exteriors."],"prevention":"Seal building exterior cracks before fall. In orchards, manage perimeter (woodlot edges and tree-of-heaven) where bugs aggregate before invasion.","regions":["eastern-us","midwest","pnw","northern-us"],"source":"Penn State Extension; USDA-ARS"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"cutworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Young transplants severed at the soil line overnight; fat gray-brown caterpillars (curled into a C) found in soil at the base.","organicManagement":["Cardboard or aluminum-foil collars (3 inches tall, 1 inch into the soil) around each transplant.","Bt-k drench at planting in heavy-pressure beds.","Handpick at night with a flashlight."],"prevention":"Tillage in fall exposes overwintering larvae. Beneficial nematodes (Steinernema carpocapsae).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"deer","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Whole branches torn off, fruit eaten. Deer often selectively eat the ripest fruit and the most tender new growth.","organicManagement":["8-foot fence is the single reliable answer; lower fences can work if angled.","Repellent sprays (rotten egg solids, hot pepper) need re-application every 2-3 weeks and after rain."],"prevention":"Plant ornamental allium and lavender at garden perimeter; deer dislike their smell.","regions":["all"],"source":"Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"early-blight","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Dark brown concentric-ring spots on lower leaves first, expanding upward. Yellow halo around each lesion. Stem cankers at the soil line. Defoliated lower stems with green upper canopy is the classic pattern.","organicManagement":["Copper-based fungicide (OMRI-listed) weekly once symptoms appear.","Remove and destroy infected leaves; do not compost.","Mulch heavily to block soil splash that spreads Alternaria spores."],"prevention":"Stake or cage plants for airflow. Drip irrigation, not overhead. Three-year rotation away from all nightshades. Resistant varieties (Mountain Magic, Iron Lady).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"green-stink-bug","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Adults 13 to 19 mm, bright pure green, shield-shaped, larger and brighter than southern green stink bug. Native US polyphage on vegetables, soybean, and tree fruit. Damage similar to other Pentatomidae: corky depressions on fruit, seed damage on legumes, banana kernels on corn.","organicManagement":["Same as brown stink bug: kaolin clay, trap cropping, natural enemy conservation.","Hand-removal on small plantings of tomato and pepper; bugs are conspicuous on green fruit.","Vacuum from foliage in dense infestations."],"prevention":"Manage weed reservoirs of host plants (mullein, vetch, soybean stubble). Scout high-value vegetables from flowering onward.","regions":["eastern-us","midwest","northern-us"],"source":"USDA-ARS"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"leaffooted-bug","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Large (20 mm) elongate brown bugs with characteristic flat leaf-like expansions on the hind legs and a thin white band across the back. Feed on tomato, peach, citrus, pomegranate. Damage to fruit similar to stink bugs but feeding holes are usually larger (deep cone-shaped pits). Common in SE US.","organicManagement":["Vacuum or knock bugs into soapy water from foliage; large enough to handle individually.","Floating row cover on tomato and pepper during peak migration.","Encourage tachinid flies (Trichopoda pennipes) and assassin bugs as natural enemies."],"prevention":"Scout fall pomegranate and citrus closely; aggregations form on developing fruit. Manage weedy field borders.","regions":["southern-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"russet-mite","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Lower stems and leaves turn bronze and brittle, working up the plant. Mites are too small to see without a 20x hand lens. Often diagnosed late.","organicManagement":["Sulfur (wettable powder) sprays at first signs.","Predatory mites (Amblyseius cucumeris)."],"prevention":"Avoid letting overgrown solanaceous weeds (nightshade, datura) near beds. Scout lower stems weekly.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"southern-green-stink-bug","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Adults 13 to 17 mm long, uniform bright green, shield-shaped, with three small white dots between the shoulders. Polyphagous on soybean, bean, tomato, pepper, and cotton. Feeding produces hard yellow callus tissue on bean pods, sunken brown spots on tomato fruit, and seed damage on soybean. Vectors yeast spot disease.","organicManagement":["Trap crops of pigeon pea, sunflower, or sorghum planted around soybean fields concentrate adults; mow or destroy when populations build.","Floating row cover on vegetable beds during peak migration.","Encourage tachinid fly Trichopoda pennipes (introduced biocontrol); orange wasp-like flies are easily identified."],"prevention":"Scout from R3 stage on soybean. Do not plant susceptible vegetables adjacent to overwintered soybean stubble in southern regions.","regions":["southern-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tobacco-budworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Caterpillars 30 to 35 mm at maturity, color varies from pale green to reddish brown, with three or four longitudinal pale stripes. Bore into flower buds and immature fruit of geranium, petunia, tomato, and pepper. Sister species of corn earworm (Helicoverpa zea); distinguished by less prominent transverse bands and finer setae.","organicManagement":["Bt subsp. kurstaki targeting larvae before they enter buds and fruit.","Spinosad spray on early instars at first sign of damage.","Remove and destroy infested buds and fruit; do not compost."],"prevention":"Avoid planting tobacco near vegetable gardens; tobacco is a strong source of budworm migration. Manage geranium and petunia plantings as scouting sentinels for first arrival.","regions":["southern-us","eastern-us"],"source":"USDA-ARS; UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tobacco-hornworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Large green caterpillars 80 to 100 mm at maturity, with seven white diagonal stripes (vs five on tomato hornworm) and a red curved horn (vs black on tomato hornworm). Defoliate solanaceous crops from the top down. Sister species of tomato hornworm; often co-occurs.","organicManagement":["Handpick caterpillars into soapy water; the most effective method for small gardens.","Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) on foliage; works on larvae under 40 mm.","Conserve parasitic braconid wasps; leave wasp-parasitized caterpillars (white rice-like cocoons on the back) in place to release the next wasp generation.","Companion plant with basil, dill, marigold to attract braconid wasps."],"prevention":"Fall tilling exposes overwintering pupae to predators and freezing. Rotate solanaceous crops on a 3-year cycle. Inspect plants twice weekly from July through August.","regions":["all"],"source":"UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tobacco-mosaic-virus","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Mottled light and dark green leaves. Distorted, narrow, fern-like new growth. Stunted plant, reduced yield.","organicManagement":["No cure; remove and destroy infected plants.","Sanitize tools and hands with non-fat milk between plants (milk denatures the virus)."],"prevention":"Tobacco users wash hands and tools before handling tomatoes. Resistant varieties (most modern hybrids carry Tm-2). Three-year rotation. Aphid control reduces vector pressure.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tobacco-thrips","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Small (1 to 1.5 mm) thrips with brown to dark brown body. Major early-season pest on peanut, soybean, and cotton in SE US; also colonizes tomato and pepper. Vectors tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). Direct feeding causes characteristic silvery scarring on leaves; virus transmission is the larger threat.","organicManagement":["Conserve minute pirate bug (Orius insidiosus), the dominant thrips predator in vegetable systems.","Reflective silver plastic mulch repels colonizing winged adults and delays TSWV onset.","Spinosad foliar sprays on heavy populations; rotate with neem to manage resistance."],"prevention":"Plant tomato and pepper resistant cultivars where TSWV is established. Scout fields weekly from transplant through fruit set with yellow sticky cards.","regions":["southern-us"],"source":"USDA-ARS"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-fruitworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Small holes near the stem end of fruit. Inside, a 1-1.5 inch striped caterpillar (yellow-green to pink-brown) eating from the inside out. Same species as corn earworm.","organicManagement":["Spray Bt on developing fruit weekly during egg-laying flights.","Release Trichogramma wasps (egg parasitoid) when adult moths are first trapped.","Remove and destroy infested fruit; do not compost."],"prevention":"Pheromone traps to monitor adult flights. Plant trap crops of corn or sunflower at the bed edge to draw egg-laying moths away from tomatoes.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-hornworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Large green caterpillars (3-4 inches at maturity) with white diagonal stripes and a curved horn at the rear. Defoliation of upper leaves first, working down the plant. Dark green droppings on lower leaves are usually the first sign before the caterpillar itself is spotted.","organicManagement":["Handpick into soapy water; the most effective control for small gardens.","Spray Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki) on foliage; works on larvae under 1.5 inches.","Encourage parasitic braconid wasps (white rice-like cocoons on hornworm backs); leave parasitized hornworms in place to release the next wasp generation.","Companion plant with dill, basil, marigold to draw braconid wasps."],"prevention":"Fall tilling exposes overwintering pupae to predators and freezing. Rotate nightshades on a 3-year cycle. Inspect plants twice weekly from July through August.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-mosaic-virus","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Mottled yellow-green leaves with deformed and reduced fruit. Mechanically transmitted through tools and tobacco residue.","organicManagement":["Plant resistant cultivars (Tm-1, Tm-2 designations).","Wash hands and tools before handling.","Avoid tobacco use in or near tomato beds.","Remove infected plants."],"prevention":"Cultivar selection. Sanitation.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-russet-mite","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Microscopic mites (only visible with 10x hand lens) on stems and lower leaves; affected stems and leaves develop bronze russet color, lower leaves wilt and drop. Plant declines from the bottom up.","organicManagement":["Sulfur dust applied to lower stems and soil surface.","Insecticidal soap on hot spots.","Remove and destroy heavily infested lower leaves.","Sanitation: remove all crop debris in fall."],"prevention":"Scout regularly with hand lens. Sanitation between seasons.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-spotted-wilt-virus","type":"disease","severity":"high","symptoms":"Bronze-cast ring spots on leaves and fruit, stunting, one-sided ripening. Vectored by thrips. Hosts include many vegetables and flowers, so it spreads through gardens once established.","organicManagement":["Remove infected plants."],"prevention":"Resistant varieties (SWV-tolerant). Thrips control. Weed management at garden edges.","regions":["southern-us","southeast-us","southwest-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"two-spotted-spider-mite","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Tiny mites with two distinctive dark spots on the body; fine stippling and bronzing on leaves; webbing on undersides during heavy infestations. Hot dry conditions amplify outbreaks.","organicManagement":["Water spray dislodges mites; repeat every 3 days.","Insecticidal soap focused on leaf undersides.","Predatory mites (Phytoseiulus) for greenhouse production.","Maintain consistent soil moisture; drought stress amplifies damage."],"prevention":"Avoid water stress. Diverse predator habitat.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"western-flower-thrips","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Tiny slender insects in flowers and leaf folds; vectors of TSWV and INSV virus. Silver scarring on leaves and fruit at oviposition sites.","organicManagement":["Blue sticky traps for monitoring.","Insecticidal soap and neem on hot spots.","Predatory mite releases (Neoseiulus) in greenhouse production.","Reflective mulches deter thrips arrival."],"prevention":"Trap monitoring. Reflective mulch.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"whitefly-greenhouse","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Adults 1.5 mm with white waxy wings, hold wings flat over the body. Nymphs are oval translucent scales on leaf undersides. Major pest of greenhouse and high-tunnel tomato, pepper, eggplant, and cucumber. Honeydew and sooty mold reduce fruit quality; heavy populations stunt plants.","organicManagement":["Release parasitic wasp Encarsia formosa at 3 wasps per square meter weekly; the cornerstone of greenhouse whitefly biocontrol.","Yellow sticky cards monitor adult populations and capture migrating whiteflies.","Insecticidal soap on heavy populations; coverage of leaf undersides is critical.","Beauveria bassiana fungal biopesticide for indoor and tunnel applications."],"prevention":"Insect screening on greenhouse vents (under 0.4 mm mesh). Maintain a 3-week host-free period between greenhouse crop cycles.","regions":["all","indoor"],"source":"UC IPM Online"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"yellow-striped-armyworm","type":"pest","severity":"high","symptoms":"Dark caterpillars up to 45 mm at maturity with two prominent yellow stripes along the back and a series of triangular black markings on each side. Polyphagous on vegetables, field crops, and ornamentals. Often migrates in 'army' fashion from harvested fields to neighboring crops.","organicManagement":["Bt subsp. kurstaki on early instars; spinosad on later instars.","Encourage parasitic flies (Tachinidae) and wasps (Trichogramma) with diverse flowering field edges.","Handpick mature larvae visible at night by flashlight."],"prevention":"Manage weeds in field margins to reduce early-season host plants. Avoid leaving harvested fields fallow with crop residue during armyworm flight peaks.","regions":["southern-us","eastern-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"alternaria-stem-canker","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Dark concentric-ring lesions on stems at the soil line; severe infections cause stem dieback. Distinct from early blight; affects different tissues.","organicManagement":["Plant resistant cultivars.","Crop rotation.","Stake plants off the ground.","Heavy mulch."],"prevention":"Cultivar selection.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"anthracnose","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Sunken circular spots with concentric rings on ripening tomato fruit. Brown spore-bearing structures in lesion centers. Worst on overripe fruit and during humid weather.","organicManagement":["Pick fruit at first blush of color, not full-ripe.","Copper-based fungicide on ripening fruit during humid spells."],"prevention":"Mulch to block soil splash. Drip irrigation. Three-year rotation. Stake plants.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"aphid-green-peach","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Soft-bodied green insects clustered on new growth and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew on leaves below. Curled, distorted new leaves. Sooty mold on honeydew deposits.","organicManagement":["Strong water spray dislodges most aphids; repeat every 2-3 days.","Insecticidal soap or neem oil on heavy infestations.","Release lady beetles, lacewings, or syrphid fly larvae."],"prevention":"Avoid high-nitrogen fertilization that pushes soft new growth. Encourage beneficials by planting umbellifer flowers (dill, fennel, cilantro left to flower) at the bed edge.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Xerces Society"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"aphid-potato","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Pink or green, pear-shaped aphids 2 to 4 mm long with long legs and antennae, clustered on growing tips and undersides of upper leaves. Honeydew and sooty mold below. Curled, distorted new growth. Vectors potato virus Y and potato leafroll virus.","organicManagement":["Conserve natural enemies: lady beetles, lacewings, syrphid larvae, parasitic wasps suppress populations below action thresholds in unsprayed gardens.","Spot-treat hot spots with insecticidal soap (1 to 2%) covering undersides of leaves; repeat after 5 to 7 days if needed.","Apply horticultural oil at 1 to 2% on dormant or summer rates against early colonies; avoid hot afternoons.","Strong water spray dislodges colonies on tomato and pepper; aphids do not climb back efficiently."],"prevention":"Avoid excessive nitrogen, which fuels aphid reproduction. Inspect undersides of upper leaves weekly from early flowering. Remove and destroy heavily infested shoots before populations explode.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM Online"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"bacterial-speck","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small dark brown to black spots (1/8 inch) with yellow halos on leaves and fruit. Worst in cool wet conditions.","organicManagement":["Copper sprays.","Remove infected leaves."],"prevention":"Hot-water seed treatment. Resistant varieties. Avoid overhead watering. Three-year rotation.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"beet-armyworm","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Pale green to brown caterpillars 25 to 30 mm at maturity with a distinct dark spot on each side just above the second true leg. Feed gregariously when young, dispersing as they mature. Skeletonize leaves and bore into fruit and flower clusters. Highly polyphagous; major on lettuce, tomato, pepper, asparagus, and many flowers.","organicManagement":["Spinosad (organic-approved formulations) is effective on small larvae; respect re-entry intervals.","Bt subsp. kurstaki on early instars; less effective on larvae over 25 mm.","Conserve parasitic wasps Hyposoter exiguae and Chelonus insularis; common in unsprayed gardens.","Handpick mature larvae from high-value plantings."],"prevention":"Avoid late-summer succession plantings of lettuce in southern regions when armyworm pressure peaks. Manage weedy field edges that harbor early-season populations.","regions":["southern-us","western-us","central-us"],"source":"UC IPM Online"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"blossom-end-rot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Dark brown to black sunken leathery patch on the blossom end of fruit. Not a pathogen, a calcium uptake disorder. First-set fruit are the most susceptible; later fruit often clean up on the same plant.","organicManagement":["Remove affected fruit, the plant cannot recover individual fruit but later set is usually clean.","Mulch heavily and water deeply 1-2 times per week to keep soil moisture even."],"prevention":"Avoid drought stress at fruit-set; calcium uptake fails under fluctuating soil moisture, not under low soil calcium in most beds. Mulch. Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizer at fruit-set.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM; Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"broad-mite","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Microscopic mites cluster on growing tips causing leaf distortion, bronzing, and bud blast. Severe infestations stunt plants. Often misdiagnosed as virus disease.","organicManagement":["Sulfur dust on growing tips.","Insecticidal soap focused on terminal growth.","Predatory mites (Amblyseius swirskii) in greenhouse production.","Maintain plant vigor through proper fertility."],"prevention":"Scout regularly with hand lens.","regions":["southern-us","humid-subtropical"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"buckeye-rot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Concentric brown rings on fruit touching wet soil (Phytophthora capsici and related). Worst on bottom fruit during heavy rains.","organicManagement":["Mulch to keep fruit off soil.","Remove infected fruit."],"prevention":"Stake plants. Mulch. Drip irrigation. Drain low spots.","regions":["southeast-us","south-central-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"cuteworm-variegated","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Caterpillars cut transplants at the soil line; rapid wilt and death of young plants. Active at night; hide in soil during the day.","organicManagement":["Cardboard or aluminum foil collars around transplant stems.","Bt sprays during active larval feeding.","Hand-pick at dusk from disturbed soil.","Fall tilling exposes pupae to predators and freezing."],"prevention":"Collar protection. Sanitation.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"eastern-chipmunk","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small (12 to 16 cm body) striped rodent with five dark and four light longitudinal stripes on the back. Damages bulb plantings (tulip, crocus), strawberries (takes single bites from many fruit), tomato fruit, and tree-fruit ripening on lower branches. Burrows under stone walls and patios.","organicManagement":["Bird netting over strawberry beds; secure tightly to the ground.","Hardware cloth bulb baskets when planting tulips and crocus; bury below planting depth.","Live trapping with sunflower seed bait; check local regulations.","Tolerate moderate populations; chipmunks consume many garden pests (slugs, insect grubs)."],"prevention":"Reduce stone-wall and woodpile habitat within 30 m of high-value plantings. Plant daffodils (chipmunk-deterrent) alongside tulips to reduce predation of vulnerable bulbs.","regions":["eastern-us","midwest","northern-us"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"gray-garden-slug","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Mottled gray to brown slug 30 to 50 mm long, the most common garden slug worldwide. Feeds at night and during wet overcast weather on virtually every vegetable, ornamental, and bulb. Distinctive ragged holes in leaves with smooth edges and silver slime trails diagnostic. Severe seedling damage causes stand failures.","organicManagement":["Iron phosphate bait (Sluggo, OMRI-approved); apply at planting and after every significant rain.","Beer traps (shallow containers buried to the rim) effective in small gardens.","Copper barrier strips around raised beds and individual plants.","Release predatory ground beetles (Carabidae) by maintaining straw mulch and undisturbed bed margins."],"prevention":"Eliminate daytime hiding places: boards, stones, debris on bed surfaces. Reduce surface mulch in seedling beds. Avoid evening irrigation.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM Online; Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"leaf-mold","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Yellow blotches on upper leaf surfaces with olive-green to gray-brown velvety mold on undersides. Common in high-tunnel and greenhouse production.","organicManagement":["Copper or Bacillus subtilis.","Remove infected leaves."],"prevention":"Reduce humidity (vents, fans). Wide spacing. Resistant varieties (Geronimo, Trust).","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"septoria-leaf-spot","type":"disease","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small circular spots (1/8 inch) with dark borders and gray-tan centers on lower leaves, with tiny black fruiting bodies visible in the center under a hand lens. Leaves yellow and drop from the bottom up.","organicManagement":["Copper or Bacillus subtilis (Serenade) sprays at first symptom.","Remove and destroy infected leaves at the first spot.","Mulch to block spore-laden soil splash."],"prevention":"Three-year rotation. Stake for airflow. Drip irrigation. Sanitize stakes and tools between seasons.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"southern-armyworm","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Smooth caterpillars up to 35 mm at maturity, dark gray-brown with a wide pale subdorsal stripe and a triangular dark mark on the first abdominal segment. Highly polyphagous in tropical and subtropical regions; reaches damaging populations on amaranth, pigweed, and cultivated crops in the SE US.","organicManagement":["Bt subsp. kurstaki on early instars.","Spinosad for larger larvae and heavier outbreaks.","Encourage Cotesia parasitoids with sweet alyssum borders."],"prevention":"Manage pigweed and amaranth weed reservoirs in adjacent fields. Avoid late-season succession plantings in heavily affected southern regions.","regions":["southern-us"],"source":"UF/IFAS Featured Creatures"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"spider-mite","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Yellow stippling on leaves, fine webbing on undersides. Tiny moving dots (red or two-spotted) under a hand lens. Worst in hot dry weather.","organicManagement":["Strong water spray (mites cannot fly; spray dislodges them).","Insecticidal soap or sulfur (avoid in hot weather).","Release predatory mites (Phytoseiulus persimilis)."],"prevention":"Avoid overhead watering during heat, but irrigate consistently; drought-stressed plants are mite magnets. Reflective mulch.","regions":["all"],"source":"UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"stink-bug","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Cloudy yellow blotches under fruit skin where stink bugs have fed. Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) also causes corky raised cat-facing scars.","organicManagement":["Handpick adults into soapy water.","Pyrethrin on heavy infestations."],"prevention":"Cleanup of weeds and brush at garden edges denies overwintering shelter to BMSB. Sticky traps with aggregation pheromone (Trissolcus japonicus releases are underway in some areas).","regions":["all"],"source":"Penn State Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"tomato-pinworm","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Small moth larvae mine through leaves creating window-pane damage, then bore into fruit. Primarily a southern US tomato pest.","organicManagement":["Bt sprays.","Pheromone trap monitoring.","Remove and destroy infested fruit.","Encourage parasitic wasps."],"prevention":"Trap monitoring.","regions":["southern-us","humid-subtropical"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"whitefly","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Tiny white moth-like insects flutter up when foliage is disturbed. Yellow stippling on leaf upper surface. Sticky honeydew and sooty mold below. Pupae are flat oval scales on leaf undersides.","organicManagement":["Yellow sticky traps placed at canopy height.","Insecticidal soap or neem oil, focused on leaf undersides, every 5-7 days.","Release Encarsia formosa (parasitoid wasp) in greenhouse settings."],"prevention":"Inspect transplants before bringing into the garden. Reflective silver mulch deters adults from landing.","regions":["all"],"source":"UF/IFAS Extension; UC IPM"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"whitefly-bandedwing","type":"pest","severity":"moderate","symptoms":"Adults 1 to 1.5 mm with white wings marked by a distinctive zigzag gray band. Common on cotton, tomato, sweet potato, and many vegetables in southern US. Major economic pest of cotton; on vegetables typically secondary to silverleaf whitefly but transmits sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus.","organicManagement":["Same as silverleaf whitefly: encarsia parasitoids, reflective mulch, insecticidal soap, neem.","Reflective silver plastic mulch under transplants delays colonization.","Yellow sticky cards monitor populations; treat at 5 to 10 adults per card per week."],"prevention":"Manage cotton and weed reservoirs (lambsquarters, velvetleaf) near vegetable beds. Plant susceptible vegetables on the upwind side of cotton fields.","regions":["southern-us"],"source":"USDA-ARS"},{"crop":"tomato","pest":"catfacing","type":"disease","severity":"low","symptoms":"Distorted fruit with deep scars and irregular ribbing at the blossom end; physiological disorder from cool temperatures during flower bud formation. Affects heirloom tomatoes most strongly.","organicManagement":["Plant transplants after night temperatures reliably exceed 55F.","Use row covers during cool spring weather.","Plant cultivars resistant to catfacing where possible."],"prevention":"Timing of transplant. Row cover.","regions":["all"],"source":"Cornell Cooperative Extension"}]}