macro · shoot tip, curled

At a glance

Profiled here
3 pests
Also consider
3 other causes
Not an insect
2 of them

When it is none of those

The rest of what gets called “curling leaves on tomato plants”. Some are pests we have not profiled yet; some are insects doing you a favour; some are not insects at all, and no treatment will help.

Not an insect

Physiological leaf roll

Leaf margins rolled upward until they touch or overlap, firm and leathery to the touch, lower leaves first. It follows hot, dry weather, rapid growth or pruning, does not noticeably reduce growth or yield, and needs no treatment.

Not an insect

Herbicide injury

New leaves narrow, elongated or twisted and cupped, with parallel veins, failing to expand. Causes include spray drift, a sprayer previously used for weedkiller, and mulch of treated lawn clippings; manure, compost, hay or straw carrying aminopyralid, clopyralid or picloram residues does the same.

Not profiled yet

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus

Small leaves that curl upward and crumple, with yellow margins and between the veins, on a stunted, upright, bushy plant. Spread by the tobacco whitefly, so look for the insect to confirm it.

Silverleaf whitefly →

Still not sure?

Four questions about the damage separate these better than an appearance can, and this page answers some of them for you.

Crop · tomatoWhere · new growthLooks like · curled, distorted new growth
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