Expert: Richard Clark - 7/18/2010

Question
QUESTION: my tomatoes and peppers have these really weird markings on them and it looks like someone has been scratching them.

ANSWER: Hannah
Not knowing where you live, I would guess at night time a worm craws down the stem and eats. Check under the leaves during the day to see if you find the worm that might be doing this. If you find the little green worm, pick it off and kill it. Your picture of the tomatoes helped to come to this conclusion.
Good luck, Richard

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: well i live in South Carolina. do you know what kind of worm this is? would it be a tomato horn worm? i looked on google images and some of the pictures looked like the plants. these markings are also on my jalapenos and bell peppers. the bell peppers also look like someone has been eating it but just these little spots.

Answer
Hannah
It has been my experience that the tomato horn worm eats the leaves. Try holding your open hand under the leaves and give the plant a few shakes to see if any small worm fall into your hand. If you don't find any you could sprinkle some Sevens insecticide powder on the plants. it will not be absorbed by the plant so when the fruit is ready make sure to wash before eating.     hope this helps, Richard