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These are tomato and capsicum plants
Hello @Racsop
If your tomato and capsicum plants are being eaten, there are a few usual suspects that love feasting on them. The most common culprits in Aussie gardens are caterpillars (especially the green tomato grub or helicoverpa), aphids, whiteflies, thrips, slugs, snails, and sometimes even rats or possums if the damage is larger and appears overnight.
Caterpillars are a big problem, especially on tomatoes. They often start off small and green, blending right in with the leaves or burrowing into fruit. Look for holes in the leaves, nibbled edges, or black droppings on the leaves below. You can also find them inside the fruit. Aphids and whiteflies are tiny sap-sucking insects that cluster under the leaves or around new growth, making the leaves curl, look yellow, or sticky. Slugs and snails usually feed overnight and leave shiny slime trails behind, while rodents or possums tend to go for ripe fruit and might leave big chunks missing or even carry them off altogether.
To defend your plants, start by using something like OCP 40g Eco-Caterpillar-Killer which is a natural bacteria-based spray that targets caterpillars without harming bees or beneficial insects. For sap suckers like aphids and whiteflies, try Eco-Oil it's safe to use on edible plants and help control a broad range of soft-bodied pests. If snails and slugs are the issue, Multiguard Snail & Slug Killer is a pet- and wildlife-safe bait you can sprinkle around the base of your plants.
If possums or rats are suspected, you might need to net your plants using Vege Netting or even make a small frame around your plants to keep them protected at night. And as a general tip, try inspecting your plants early in the morning or after dark with a torch—that’s when a lot of these pests are most active and easiest to spot.
If you need further assistance, please let us know.
Eric
