Fruit worm

Caused by: Helicoverpa zea
Problem Category: Insect
Symptoms: Larvae burrowing into fruit near stem end and feeding on fruit interior causing decay; fruit turn red prematurely and fall from plant causing reduced yield; young caterpillars are cream-white in color with a black head and black hairs; older larvae may be yellow-green to almost black in color with fine white lines along their body and black spots at the base of hairs; eggs are laid singly on both upper and lower leaf surfaces and are initially creamy white but develop a brown-red ring after 24 hours and darken prior to hatching.
Comments: Adult insect is a pale green to tan, medium sized moth; can be one of the most damaging pests of tomato; insect overwinters as pupae in the soil; the insect is also a damaging pest of corn and is also referred to as the corn ear worm.
Management: Early treatment of tomato fruitworms is necessary as once they enter the fruit they are protected from sprays; monitor plants for eggs and young larvae and also natural enemies that could be damaged by chemicals; Bacillus thuringiensis or Entrust SC may be applied to control Insect on organically grown plants; appropriate chemical treatment may be required for control in commercial plantations.
Control: Spary the chiili garlic extract or 5% Neem seed kernal extract to control friut worm