Pest profile

Tomato Pinworm

Keiferia lycopersicella · Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae[2]

Tomato pinworm larvae mine tomato leaves, then bore into fruit, leaving a small pin-size hole.[1]

Leaf mine made by a tomato pinworm larva in a fuzzy green leaf
Leaf mine made by a tomato pinworm larva in a fuzzy green leaf. (c) cigazze, some rights reserved (CC BY) — via iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0

How to identify it

  • Young larvae make blotch-like mines inside leaves.[1]
  • Older larvae feed inside tied or folded leaves, and mature larvae may bore into fruit.[1]

Where it lives

It lives in warm areas of Mexico, California, Texas, Hawaii and the Caribbean; in Florida it's common in tomato areas along the southern coasts.[1]

US map: public records from 11 states since 1990 (GBIF).

Biology and life cycle

There can be seven, eight or more overlapping generations a year.[1]

Hosts include tomato, eggplant, potato and nightshade weeds.[1]

Damage and signs

  • As much as 60 to 80 percent of tomato fruit can be infested in a season, and holes let in rot.[1]

Health risk

It feeds on plants; UF/IFAS mentions no risk to people.[1]

Control

Sanitation

Use transplants free of eggs and larvae, and destroy plant debris after harvest.[1]

Pesticides

Insecticides work only on early larvae; older ones are protected in leaf folds or fruit, so watch closely for mines.[1]

Common questions

What makes tiny pin holes in my tomatoes?
Possibly tomato pinworm larvae boring into the fruit.[1]
How do pinworms get into a garden?
Often on infested transplants, fruit or containers, or from old plants left after harvest.[1]

Sources

  1. University of Florida IFAS Extension (Featured Creatures), “Tomato Pinworm, Keiferia lycopersicella (Featured Creatures).” edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/IN231 (accessed 2026-10-06)
  2. iNaturalist, “Keiferia lycopersicella taxon page (order and family).” www.inaturalist.org/taxa/416926 (accessed 2026-10-06)

Updated 2026-10-14. Built from sourced records. Spot an error? Tell us.