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My ripe tomatoes have small holes with numerous ants in them. Did the ants make the holes? How can I control them?

Last Updated: October 17, 2011

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Ants aren't really your problem. They are just attracted to the moisture in the holes, which were caused by other insects. A likely culprit is the tomato fruitworm, also known as the corn earworm. Bt (Bacillus thuringensis) is a nontoxic biological control that you can apply to the plants.  You may want to visit the eXtension website for additdional information on controlling garden pests.

Browse related Faqs by tag: horticulture, vegetable gardening, ants, tomato, plant-insect relations, vegetables and herbs, fruit worm


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