Nightshade Crops - Tomatoes, Peppers, Eggplants
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In this episode of 'Bugs by the Yard,' hosts Wizzy Brown and Molly Keck from the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service dive into the shared pest challenges faced by nightshade crops—tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tomatillos. They emphasize that these plants, all part of the Solanaceae family, are vulnerable to the same suite of pests, especially caterpillars like tomato and tobacco hornworms, which are often misidentified but behave similarly. The hosts discuss key pests including leaf-footed bugs, spider mites, leaf miners, aphids, flea beetles, and cutworms, offering practical, eco-friendly management strategies such as blacklight night-picking, physical removal, cultural controls like improving airflow and shading, and targeted organic sprays like BT and spinosad. They stress that understanding species identity isn't always necessary—what matters most is timely observation and behavioral adjustments to support plant resilience. The episode ends with a teaser for the next episode on legumes and encourages listeners to explore show notes and related podcasts.
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tomatillos are all part of the nightshade family and share the same major pests.
Tomato and tobacco hornworms are often confused but both cause severe foliage and fruit damage; use blacklights at night to spot and remove them.
For spider mites, focus on cooling plants and improving airflow rather than spraying, as insecticides can harm beneficial insects.
Leaf-footed bugs and aphids can be managed physically—shaking plants into soapy water or using vacuum tools when populations are young.
Cultural practices like proper spacing, shading, and timing plantings to avoid peak heat are more effective than chemical solutions long-term.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Welcome & Podcast Recognition
The hosts welcome listeners and celebrate the podcast being ranked #2 in the U.S. for entomological content, thanking fans for their support and setting the stage for the episode.
Nightshade Crops & Shared Pest Challenges
The hosts explain why tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and tomatillos are grouped together as solanaceous plants and why they face identical pest threats.
Tomato & Tobacco Hornworms: Identification & Control
“If you go out at night with a blacklight flashlight, their exoskeleton will illuminate. And so you can pull them and step on them and smush them.”
Other Caterpillars: Fruit Worms, Pinworms, Cutworms & More
The hosts break down other major caterpillar pests—tomato fruit worm (corn earworm), pinworms, cutworms, cabbage loopers, and beet armyworms—highlighting their damage patterns and control methods.
Non-Caterpillar Pests: Leaf-Footed Bugs, Spider Mites & Aphids
“If you can cool things down, then you can bring natural enemies in and that can help keep the spider mites in check.”
“If you go out at night with a blacklight flashlight, their exoskeleton will illuminate. And so you can pull them and step on them and smush them.”
“If you can cool things down, then you can bring natural enemies in and that can help keep the spider mites in check.”
“It's all kind of just what we do and what our behavior is. And, and y'all are probably annoyed because you're not, you didn't tell me one thing to spray that would kill everything...”
Hosts
Tomato
other
Pepper
other
Molly Keck
person
Tomato Hornworm
other
Wizzy Brown
person
Tobacco Hornworm
other
Spider Mites
other
Leaf-Footed Bug
other
Bugs by the Yard
media
Solanaceae
other
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