Topic: Mouse dropping lookalike

[lottie lou]

Does anyone know what is or is leaving what looks like mouse droppings on my tomatoes?  I am assuming it is an insect of some kind as some of my tomato skins appear to have small holes when I wipe them off.  Does anyone also have any idea how to clear off/prevent. 

[daveyboi]

Maybe you can identify your problem on this page scroll down for pictures

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomFrt/TomFrtKey.html#Spot

[Tee Gee]

My guess would be the caterpillar of some type of moth e.g.




but not necessarily this one!

[gray1720]

If I had those I'd happily sacrifice my toms for the chance of seeing it grown up!

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_oDoxLg65yPc/S_2HL-XSsKI/AAAAAAAABL0/MaidZkKDLIo/s1600/elephant+hawk+moth.jpg

I'd agree that a caterpillar of some sort is likeliest, though - unless you have bats, and it's coincidence.

Adrian
 

[chriscross1966]

Or mice....

[Gavin63]

I had the same a couple of weeks ago it was caterpillars, a spray with Deltamethrin sorted them out within a few minutes.

[Deb P]

I'd guess tomato moth. I found some on my tomatoes last week, same large black droppings. Squished in seconds.....