Tomato looper

Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Forests and Woodlands, Grasslands and Prairies

Agricultural and Cultivated Areas, Forests and Woodlands, Urban and Suburban Areas

For attracting adult tomato looper, gardeners and researchers often use pheromone traps, which mimic the scent released by the female moths to attract males.

The eggs of tomato looper, typically found on the underside of leaves of host plants, are where one might start their search. Caterpillars, which emerge from these eggs, are commonly located on various parts of the plant, often on leaves where they feed and can cause significant damage. Against the backdrop of dense vegetation, pupae of tomato looper stay concealed in a cocoon, either within folded leaves or in the soil. When searching for these pupae, one would examine leaf litter or dig gently into the soil. Adults of tomato looper are nocturnal and are attracted to lights, so they can often be spotted near light sources after dark.

The most suitable time to find adult tomato looper would be at night, as this is when they are most active because they are nocturnal. Larval stages are more likely to be observed during the day, when they are feeding.

Warm and calm nights are preferable when searching for adult tomato looper, while overcast, yet not rainy days may be best for finding larvae, as these conditions are less likely to have the larvae retreating into protective hiding.