1
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Eggplant Leaves Being Eaten

Eggplant    Long Island, New York

Hi - New to the forum and looking for some help on my eggplant. The leaves are being eaten, picture attached. At this point the leaves are completely gone down to the stem.

Does anyone know what could be causing this and how do I treat?

Thanks,
John


Posted by: John (2 points) John
Posted: June 19, 2015




Answers

2
points
It sounds like hornworms. The host plant for the larvae is the solanaceae family and that includes your eggplant, but it is seen more on tomatoes. They will eat the leaves down to the nubs of the stems and when ready to pupate will be just under the soil surface. Check carefully under the leaves and on stems for eggs or the caterpillars. They blend in and unless very large can be difficult to see. And go to the Library on site here and look up eggplant. Scroll down and you will see a picture of one. They do have predators but handpicking is a good way to get rid of them. There is a bacterial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis but it is only going to work if the caterpillars are feeding; they have to ingest the leaves with BT on them.


Posted by: Susan League, UF/IFAS Sumter Program Assistant (1 point) Susan League, UF/IFAS Sumter Program Assistant
Posted: June 20, 2015




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