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Tomatoes are a high-value crop vulnerable to pests like whiteflies, thrips, spider mites, tomato psyllids, and aphids, all of which can quickly impact yield and quality. Effective pest control in tomatoes depends on early monitoring and the targeted use of biological control agents. Beneficial insects and mites—such as parasitic wasps, predatory mites, and Tetrapar (used to target specific whitefly species)—provide a sustainable, chemical-free solution that protects plant health throughout the growing cycle. Integrated pest management ensures vigorous growth and reliable production for every harvest.
Tomatoes & Pest Control
Monitoring & Mass Trapping
Yellow Horiver Wetstick cards and Yellow Horiver Rollertraps are essential tools for pest management in tomato crops.
For monitoring purposes, hang one card every 20-40 square meters. If your growing space is smaller, ensure there are at least 4 cards per compartment. These sticky cards are crucial for detecting pests like thrips, whiteflies, aphids, and sciarid flies.
Check and assess the cards weekly to monitor pest populations. Additionally, perform thorough crop inspections from the soil to the canopy. Inspect the soil, stems, leaves, and joints for signs of pests. Always flip leaves to examine both upper and lower surfaces, especially targeting new and older growth where pests tend to hide.
For mass trapping, deploy Yellow Horiver Rollertraps or additional cards at a rate of 800 per acre or 100 every 500 meters square. Space them in a grid-style pattern throughout your crop at a height of 30cm. These traps effectively capture most flying insects, including aphids, thrips, whiteflies, moths, and fungus gnats, preventing them from reaching your plants.
This proactive trapping approach is your first and most crucial line of defense—stopping insect migration before it reaches your tomatoes.
Whitefly Control Products
| Whitefly Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Note |
| 1.5 parasitic wasps per square meter | 10-15 parasitic wasps per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | This product starts working as soon as it is introduced to the plants. However, visible results, such as whitefly pupae changing color, will become noticeable after 14-21 days.
The goal is to achieve 80% parasitism. Due to the nature of parasitoids, you will never reach 100% parasitism. Leave the deleafed leaves on the floor if parasitism rate is above 50%. This allows the parasitic wasps to continue to emerge from removed leaves. | |
| 1.5 parasitic wasps per square meter | 10-15 parasitic wasps per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Use this product when you are growing in cooler conditions (below 77°F (25°C)) and in lower dispersed whitefly situations as they live longer so they can oviposit eggs over a longer duration.
This product starts working as soon as it is introduced to the plants. However, visible results, such as whitefly pupae changing color, will become noticeable after 14-21 days.
The goal is to achieve 80% parasitism. Due to the nature of parasitoids, you will never reach 100% parasitism. Leave the deleafed leaves on the floor if parasitism rate is above 50%. This allows the parasitic wasps to continue to emerge from removed leaves. | |
| 1.5 parasitic wasps per square meter | 10-15 parasitic wasps per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Use this product in warmer temperatures, typically above 77°F (25°C). It also responds more quickly to high-pressure whitefly situations because they oviposit all their eggs over a shorter period than Encarsia.
This product starts working as soon as it is introduced to the plants. However, visible results, such as whitefly pupae changing color, will become noticeable after 14-21 days.
The goal is to achieve 80% parasitism. Due to the nature of parasitoids, you will never reach 100% parasitism. Leave the deleafed leaves on the floor if parasitism rate is above 50%. This allows the parasitic wasps to continue to emerge from removed leaves. | |
| One card per square meter | Two cards per square meter | Replace cards when full | Hang 30 cm above crop, move the cards up as the tomato plants grow. |
Spider Mite Control Products
| Spider Mite Control Products | Preventative | Elimination | Repeat Applications | Notes |
| 10 predatory mites per square meter | 25-100 predatory mites per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly as needed | Feeds on all stages of spider mites. Best used in preventative or light curative situations. | |
| 1 sachet per plant along post rows and side walls | 1-3 sachets per plant in hot spots | Weekly or bi-weekly or as needed | Feeds on all stages of spider mites. Best used in preventative or light curative situations. | |
| n/a | 25-100 predatory mites per square meter | Weekly or bi-weekly or as needed | Feeds on all stages of spider mites. Best used when you have hot spots with webbing. | |
| n/a | Apply 1 tube of 250 insects per hot spot | Apply 1 tube weekly for 3-4 weeks | The larvae of this product feeds on all stages of spider mites. Best used when you have hot spots with webbing. |
| Fungus Gnat Control | Preventative | Curative | Repeat Applications |
| Entomite-M | 100 predatory mites per meter square | Apply once at planting. | |
| Atheta | 5 predatory bugs per meter square | Apply once at planting. | |
| Entonem AM | 100,000 nematodes per meter square for sawdust, coco bags, or a soilless media mix
150,000 to 200,000 nematodes per meter square for rockwool | Minimum 2 applications, 7 days apart. |
| Aphid Control | Preventative | Curative | Repeat Applications |
| Aphipar, Aphipar-M, Ervipar or Aphilin | 0.5-1 parasitic wasps per meter square | 2 parasitic wasps per meter square | Apply weekly.
Make sure to identify the Aphids when using parsitic wasps curatively. |
| Aphidend | 5-10 gall midges per meter square | Apply directly into hot spots for 3-4 weeks. |