Plant parts affected

leaf, fruit

Initial diagnosis:

The most distinctive symptoms of damage done by the tomato leaf miner (Tuta absoluta) are the blotch-shaped mines in the leaves.

Symptoms:

Caterpillars prefer leaves and stems, but they may also occur underneath the crown of the fruit and even inside the fruit itself. On leaves, the larvae only feed on mesophyll tissues, leaving the epidermis intact.

Damage type:

Fruits can be attacked as soon as they are formed but the larvae only feed on green fruits. In case of serious infection, leaves die off completely.