Armyworm egg mass on a tomato leaf.
Justin Ballew, ©2023, Clemson Extension
This is an armyworm egg mass on a tomato leaf, possibly from the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua). The beet armyworm is a pest of vegetables across the Southern US. In warm weather, these eggs will hatch in only 2-3 days. Young caterpillars are slow to disperse and will skeletonize leaves as they feed. As they grow, they will spread out and become solitary. In tomatoes, they are most problematic when plants are small, though they may also damage the fruit later on. Read more about beet armyworms here.
