The pinworm also rolls and ties the leaf tips together, differing from the leafminer in that it does not leave a trail of fecal material in its tunnel but comes to the entrance to make depositions of wastes. Tomato pinworm can be one of the most severe pests confronting Florida tomato growers . This is a good time to consider strategies for managing this pest because the populations usually begin developing in the early spring. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to feed. The larva drops to the soil to pupate and several generations of the pest can be expected each year .
Populations often occur initially around field margins, and feeding is largely confined to foliage.
As the numbers increase, however, more of the field is likely to be infested. Plant damage results in a burned or scalded appearance of the plant. Severe infestations can result in fields looking as though they had been sprayed with herbicides. The worst part is that the worms begin to attack the fruit. Obviously, any fruit damaged by a pinworm is judged unmarketable .