Description:

• Fruit borer infestations are most common during the flowering and fruiting stages of the tomato crop.
• The infestation mainly occurs between October and February.

Damage Symptoms:

• Small holes appear on tomatoes as larvae bore through to feed on the inner pulp.
• Damaged tomatoes become susceptible to rotting.
• Infested tomatoes may ripen too early and fall before reaching the market, reducing both quality and marketability.
• The larvae feed on buds, leading to a reduction in the number of flowers produced.

Preventive Measures:

•  Practice crop rotation.
•  Install pheromone traps in the field.

Control Measures:

•  Apply cypermethrin at 0.5 ml/l or spinosad at 0.2 ml/l.