Question

We live in central Maryland, USA, and pulled this off a tomato plant in our garden this morning (mid-summer). Any idea what these are? Not sure if they’re beneficial or parasitic, but I’d say the latter if I had to guess. The shape of those looks more like caterpillar droppings (frass) than galls to me, though I've never seen them so green or shiny. Here's an image of tomato hornworm droppings, it looks quite similar to your picture:If the balls are firmly attached to the leaf then they are galls, if they can be dislodged, then poop is more likely. Galls, the plants reaction to certain insects. Generally no action is warranted because of minimal harm to the host plant.

Answer 1

The objects on the tomato plant are likely caterpillar droppings called frass, not parasitic galls. Frass is non-parasitic and results from the caterpillar's normal feeding process, while galls are induced by organisms that have a parasitic relationship with the plant.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mysterious objects found on the tomato plant in central Maryland are likely to be caterpillar droppings, often referred to as frass. If these tiny, green, shiny balls can be easily dislodged from the plant, they are almost certainly not galls, which are usually firmer and more integrated with the plant's tissues. Galls are abnormal growths induced by various organisms such as insects, fungi, and mites, and they do have a parasitic relationship with the plant, often providing nutrition and protection for the organism that induced them. However, they generally do minimal harm to the host. On the other hand, frass is simply the result of caterpillar feeding activity and does not indicate a parasitic relationship.Understanding the nature of organisms interacting with plants, such as the peripatus caterpillar-like animals or the rust fungi that induce galls, provides insight into the complex relationships within ecosystems.

These relationships can range from beneficial symbiosis to parasitism, where one organism may harm or disadvantage the other for its own benefit.The balls you found on the tomato plant are most likely caterpillar droppings (frass). They resemble the droppings of tomato hornworms, which often feed on tomato plants. If the balls are firmly attached to the leaf, they are galls, which are abnormal growths induced by certain insects. However, if the balls can be dislodged, then they are more likely to be poop. In either case, minimal harm is done to the host plant, so no action is usually required.