The tiny holes are likely due to flea beetles. Flea beetles are the most common pest of eggplant in the home garden. Adults are tiny, shiny, black beetles.
What keeps eating my eggplant?
Eggplant is a favorite host of multiple species of flea beetles, which are mostly in the genus Epitrix. Flea beetles have chewing mouthparts and feed on leaves, making small, shot-like holes. Their damage is most serious when the plants are small and have just a few leaves.
What is the worm in eggplant?
Pepper maggot, Zonosemata electa. These maggots may also feed in the fruits of eggplant. The maggots of these barred-wing flies infest the fruits of peppers, causing them to decay, and in eggplants, resulting in tunneling within the fruit.
What causes pin holes in leaves?
Chewing insects eat leaves and make holes by biting or tearing leaves and grinding them with their tooth-like mandibles. Few plants — or plant parts — are safe from damage by chewing insects. Day-feeding Japanese beetles skeletonize the leaves of hundreds of plant species.
What is the major pest of eggplant?
eggplant flea beetle
Eggplant – a solanaceous crop – has some of the same pests as pepper, potato, and tomato. The eggplant flea beetle and the eggplant lace bug are common pests, but twospotted spider mites can be more damaging.
Is it safe to eat eggplant with worm?
“The worm of the insect bore tunnels in the fruit, rendering them unfit for consumption.” Unfortunately, there is no known genetic resistance to EFSB in cultivated and wild eggplants. “The insects are concealed in the shoots and fruits and are difficult to reach,” Dr. Javier explained.
How do you know when an eggplant goes bad?
When buying an eggplant, the flesh should be firm but give slightly when pressed, then bounce back. If your eggplant is soft to the touch, that’s an indication that it’s beginning to spoil. In addition, if the flesh of the eggplant is slimy, you’ll want to throw it away.
What is bacterial wilt of eggplant?
Bacterial wilt is a major devastating soil-borne disease, caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, that impedes eggplant cultivation worldwide. The progress in developing eggplant varieties or hybrids possessing bacterial wilt resistance is encouraging.
How do you treat holes in plant leaves?
For both, treat with insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. Sucking insects poke tiny holes in leaves and draw the juices out of them. Common sucking insects include aphids, squash bugs, and spider mites.
What is eating holes in my vegetable leaves?
If you see holes or ragged chunks of leaves disappearing and the damage has been occurring slowly, with a little feeding each night, beetles, caterpillars, earwigs or slugs may be the culprits. To distinguish among these four look for signs, or evidence, left behind.
Should I cut off leaves with holes?
Fortunately, there’s good news! Greens with holes in them that were created by feeding insects or slugs should be fine to eat, if you cut away the damaged parts. However, there are times when you do want to avoid produce that has been damaged by the local wildlife.
What does an overwatered eggplant look like?
An overwatered eggplant will also show symptoms of this problem on its leaves. Look for leaves that feel wet, soft, and limp. More symptoms of overwatering include premature leaf drop of new growth and soft, brown, or mushy roots that prevent the plant from taking water, causing leaf curl and wilting.
How do you control eggplant fruit and shoot borer?
Control and Management:
Monitor the area regularly. Remove damaged and infested shoots and fruits and dispose properly. Use of attractant or pheromone lure to suppress male population. Spray botanical insecticides such as neem, hot pepper and kakawate extracts.
How do I protect my eggplant from flea beetles?
For eggplant, drape the row cover over hoops – don’t let the material lay directly on plants. Spray a product like “Surround”, which are repellents made from kaolin clay mixed with water. They create a particle barrier after drying that inhibits flea beetles and greatly reduces feeding.
What kills flea beetles?
At the first sign of flea beetles in your garden, turn to a trusted pesticide such as Sevin brand for help. Sevin Insect Killer Ready to Use2 kills flea beetles on listed vegetables on contact to help prevent damage to tender seedlings and maturing plants at the first sign of trouble.
What is a natural way to get rid of flea beetles?
How to Get Rid of Flea Beetles
- Try this homemade spray to control flea beetles: 2 cups isopropyl alcohol, 5 cups water, and 1 tablespoon liquid soap.
- Dusting leaves with plain talcum powder repels flea beetles on tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and other plants.
- Use white sticky traps to capture flea beetles as they jump.
Do coffee grounds deter flea beetles?
Coffee grounds are a good repellent for flea beetles, but to get rid of them, the best and most effective option is diatomaceous earth, which will dehydrate the pests on contact.
How do you control eggplant mites?
Eggplant-Spider mite
- azadirachtin (neem oil)-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- bifenthrin (usually as a mix with zeta-cypermethrin).
- horticultural oil-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
- insecticidal soap-Some formulations are OMRI-listed for organic use.
What is the best pesticide for eggplant?
The insecticides used by vegetable farmers on eggplant include profenofos, triazophos, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, and malathion.
How do you make insecticidal soap?
By mixing 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil and 2.5 tablespoons of pure liquid soap with 1 gallon of distilled water, you’ll have a whole gallon of insecticidal soap for safely spraying plants in flowerbeds or the vegetable garden.
What happens if you accidentally eat a worm?
Accidentally ingesting maggots does not generally cause any lasting harm. However, if a person has ingested maggots through eating spoiled food, they may be at risk of food poisoning. Symptoms of food poisoning can range from very mild to serious, and they can sometimes last for several days.