Expert offers tips to spot garden pests and stop damage to tomatoes and other crops

Homegrown tomato lovers, beware. A sneaky pest may be lurking in the garden, which could be why fruit turns tough, blemished or completely inedible. 

Leaf-footed bugs are appearing in gardens, and they’re especially drawn to tomatoes.

Molly Keck, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service integrated pest management specialist, said now is the time for gardeners to closely watch for leaf-footed bugs because catching them before adulthood is vital for preventing damage. 

She shared simple strategies to stop pests before they ruin crops.

What to look for in various stages

Leaf-footed bugs are named for their flattened, leaf-like extensions on their back legs.

Adults are dark brown, about three-quarters of an inch long, with a white to yellowish stripe across their back and fully-developed wings. And like stink bugs, which they are sometimes confused for, mature leaf-footed bugs emit an odor when handled.

Immature nymphs look quite different. They are much smaller, with red or orange and black bodies and black legs. They typically group in clusters on plants and move like spiders.

Keck said while the pest is particularly drawn to tomatoes, they also feed on cucumbers and prickly pear cactus. As they feed, their sharp, sucking mouthparts pierce the fruit.

“They pierce the fruit, leaving yellow, bleached-looking marks with hardened skin around it or it will make a rotten spot,” she said. “It makes the tomato not palatable.”

When to look for leaf-footed bugs 

Leaf-footed bugs typically appear when tomato plants begin to bloom. This is when Keck recommends paying even closer attention.

“The trick is to catch them when they’re immature,” she said. “You prevent more damage by catching them before they become adults and stop the next generation.”

Keck prefers a hands-on approach to managing leaf-footed bugs, including pouring rubbing alcohol into a baking sheet, holding the tray below the nymph’s cluster, flicking or shaking the tomato plant to make the bugs fall into the tray and squashing any bugs that held on to the plant or missed the tray.

To eliminate nymphs in particular, some gardeners use a hand vacuum or simply squash them. Nymphs are easier to remove than adults, which can fly away.

Keck said these pests can become adults in just five to eight weeks, so early timing is important.

Vigilance in the garden 

Regular walks in the garden are one of the best defenses against the pest. 

Keck suggests spending a little time each day looking under leaves, around stems and in other tucked-away places of each plant’s canopy.

“It’s just good to have a regular scouting regimen,” she said. “In a small garden, this might mean a good look every day. Those who have larger gardens should break up their scouting into sections of different plants each day.”

The pest can also hide in tall grass or weeds near the garden. To prevent this risk, keep the area clear of potential hiding spots.

“If you are working hard for tomatoes, watch out for leaf-footed bugs,” Keck said. “It’s worth your time to protect your plants.”

Adam Russell is a communications specialist for Texas A&M AgriLife. This article was originally published by AgriLifeToday on May 5.