Help Please! Worm on Eggplant that I cant identify !

adri0924 · Wed Nov 03, 2010 11:17 am

I have been trying to deal with this for several weeks. Every time I search the internet, nothing comes up that resembles the problem I am having!

On my Eggplant plant, a small, probably a centimeter in length, white worm has started to appear and form a kind of sticky spider web which ends up closing the leaf and then wilting it off. I have not tried to spray anything on it since I don't know what it is or what will get it off. I usually pick them off, but now there is one in probably 1 out of 4 leaves.

Does anyone know what this worm is and what will work to keep it away? I'd prefer not to use any harmful pesticides.

Thank you so much for your help!

DoubleDogFarm · Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:25 pm

Sounds like a leaf roller caterpillar. Try Google images. What do you think?

Eric

adri0924 · Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:36 pm

Yes! that is it! now lets see if I can find something to control it.

Thank you !!

DoubleDogFarm · Wed Nov 03, 2010 1:57 pm

You might start with soap spray. Not detergent. Then go for BT if need to.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=16&ved=0CC8QFjAFOAo&url=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.mastergardening.biz%2Fitems%2Fmsds%2FDEE-0096_LABEL.pdf&rct=j&q=leaf%20roller%20caterpillar%20control&ei=U6HRTIuODIa8sAPix8DnCw&usg=AFQjCNFpoBFIiTKhX3PH7D5p3fjiJoLc_w

With the leaf roller curled up inside, it's harder to control. You could just pick off the leaf and drop into soapy water.

Also a floating row cover next year will help.

Eric