UF/IFAS Vegetable Arthropod Pest Photographs CD-ROM III

Tomato Pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella
(Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The tomato pinworm is a small moth that can cause significant damage to tomato plants. The distribution of the tomato pinworm is limited to areas that are warm and grow tomatoes. The life cycle can be completed in 28 days under optimal conditions. Eggs are pale yellow when laid but turn orange before hatching. The larvae tunnel in the leaf. The pupae can be found among sand grains near the soil surface. There can be seven or eight generations per year and damage can be extensive due to overlapping generations.

Solanaceous (tomato and its relatives) plants are the preferred hosts. Some weeds may also serve as alternate hosts. Damage to the fruit is done when the larvae bore into the fruit leaving a small pinhole. This wound then allows pathogens to enter into the fruit and cause damage. Up to 80% of fruit may be infested in a single growing season. Some chemical control is used but is reliant on good scouting techniques and catching the population at low levels. Sanitation is the best cultural control method. It is essential to avoid planting infested transplants, and to destroy all plant residues at the end of the growing season. Pheromones are available that can interfere with mating and can slow the increase in population size.

Images

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Tomato pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella, feeding injury to
tomato fruit.
(Photographer: V. Waddill, University of Florida)
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Tomato pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella, mine in tomato leaf.
(Photographer: J. Castner, University of Florida)
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Tomato pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella, larva.
(Photographer: J. Castner, University of Florida)
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