Tomato Horned Caterpillars

15 years ago

Being a purist at heart, I decided to "pick off" those pesky green caterpillars that have the big, scary FAKE stinger-looking horn.

Having picked off about 80 yesterday, the purist in me has just decided to poison the little critters.

Anyone know of a home-made pesticide that will kill these guys and not me? I've already tried hydrogen peroxide and Coke (phosphoric acid) to no avail.

God Bless

:O)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

greystoke
15 years ago
Good grief!!!
I used to pick these things by hand until they're gone, but 80 ???, that's a bit much. Have you tried tobacco dust?
freemangreens
Original Author
15 years ago
To answer your question; No, I haven't.

80??? -- Yup. I put them in a can and did a mass squish, then into the compost heap!

Tobacco dust . . . Hmmmm Seems to me tobacco dust might bring in TMV (tobacco mosaic virus). Don't want that! Are you sure about this?

I was hoping there was some kind of electronic gadget I could set up that would explode them like the Western Music did the Martians' heads in Mars Attacks!

:O)
Related Discussions
7 Huge Tomato Horn Worms today
Q
Comments (24)
I am curious, how many of you that are finding these hornworms, are tilling the soil. It will drastically cut down on the population if you do. LIFE CYCLE Moths emerge from overwintering sites in spring. After mating, females deposit oval, smooth, light green eggs singly on lower and upper leaf surfaces. Caterpillars hatch, begin to feed and are full grown in three to four weeks. The mature caterpillars drop off plants and burrow into the soil to pupate. Moths emerge in two weeks to begin a second generation, during mid summer. Second generation moths deposit eggs on host plants, such as tomato. The caterpillars feed until late summer or early fall and then pupate. The pupae remain in the soil through the winter. Till the soil after harvest to destroy burrowing caterpillars and pupae.
...See More
Tomato Horn Worms
Q
Comments (37)
WOW! I am so glad that I found this forum! I live in Augusta, GA and visited my Dad in Clay Co, AL this past week. We were looking at his tomato plants and found 2 tomato worms, which had the parasitic cocoons on them. I picked the worms off the plants and brushed the cocoons off of them. Dad wanted to squish them, but I said that I was going to take them home and raise them and teach our 4 year old son about metamorphosis. I wasn't sure about how to go about keeping them, UNTIL I found this forum! We cut alot of leaves and stalks for them to chew on until I can get a plant for them to live on. They are about 2 inches long, and fat. I had no idea that they bury themselves in dirt to go into their pupa state. SO again I am glad I started researching and found this forum. I was kinda bummed that we won't be able to watch them form cocoons but I am happy to know that they will turn into these particular moths, which I didn't know what they turned into before. So with that, I am wondering how will I know when they will go into the dirt, I am planning on putting them in the fridge while they are in the dirt so they won't come out to early and die. My only other issue is going to be we are moving in Missouri in late March early April and I am wondering if they will survive the move? Is there anything I should do to protect them during the move? When should I expect them to be ready to make their grand appearance? This is the 1st time ever doing this.So an extra pointers are welcome! ALSO I had read that some of you had the caterpillars with the parasites on them and you left them alone. Do you think mine will be OK since I took them off? Thanks! Kim
...See More
caterpillar ID pretty please !
Q
Comments (2)
Tobacco hornworms (the most common hornworm found on tomato plants) have a pink or red horn. Was this hornworm actually eating the buddleia? If so, I don't know what it was, but it was probably traveling to go underground somewhere and make its pupa. It's most likely a pawpaw sphinx - I think I can see the sand papery area on the back of the head. Sherry
...See More
Tomato HornWorm's (S. Central MI) Needing Relocation Advice
Q
Comments (2)
Your tomato/tobacco hornworm will eat the leaves of tomato, preferrably, though they can be found on other members of the Solanaceae family such as pepper and potato, though grudgingly. There are a few native weeds in this plant family, but you would have to look them up since I don't know where you live. Most of those plants are considered toxic....Solanaceae is the Nightshade family. That's pretty much it. They are not generalists but very host specific. The lids of water are useless. Spray the leaves occasionally with water. Captive caterpillars often succumb to disease if in the hands of someone who has not learned the rudiments of caring for them. That would be most of us! To go along with your philosophy, releasing them into the 'wild' without an appropriate food source would be cruel. They would suffer a slow death of starvation. I suggest that you either sacrifice your own tomato plant, or get some more tomato plants, or serve them up to the birds in your garden by placing them in the bird bath or feeder. That would be a good thing to do, right? In nature, there are many pests and parasites that help control these particular caterpillars. Very few of the many that are hatched actually make it to adulthood.
...See More
hydroponica
15 years ago
If you find that electronic gadget, I want one. No wait, I want two. Just in case one breaks.

I hate, Hate, HATE, those damn caterpillars. Did I mention I hate them?

I pulled one off my plants this year that was shockingly huge, like the size of one of those metal marker pens that make you light headed when someone across the room uses them.

And I agree, tobacco would be very, very bad for tomatoes.

About the only thing I know of would be BT, a virus(or bacteria, I forget which) that kills them. How safe that is for things you want to eat, I don't know. Look into it and decide for yourself.

I know that I will be very seriously considering it next year. I hate those things... HATE THEM!
freemangreens
Original Author
15 years ago
Okay . . . here's the deal: I got some BT, which stands for bacillis thuremgienesis (Kurostaki strain) -- Go Figure!

The bottle says all it does is make the cattrpillars lose their appetite -- to the tune of never eating again. Basically, they starve to death. It goes on to say that it won't harm anything else; plant or animal and that it can be used on fruit the day it is picked and eaten.

I'm still gonna wash things off with water to be on the safe side.

I sprayed all my tomatoes both top and bottom (of leaves) today. I'll be listening for little growling tummies!

If this seems cruel to anybody, the alternative is to pick them off and smash them under my boot! Hey! You should have seen the mess I made squishing 80 at once in a coffee can!

:O)
freemangreens
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, I gotta tell you -- BT works. I left several of the little boogers on my tomato plants, marking their position, then sprayed them with BT.

Next morning all the markers were there, but the caterpillars were either lying on the floor directly below or still clinging to the stem, but DEAD!

By the way, I purchased it at my local hydroponics store for $12. I later found the same stuff at Home Depot for $6. At this point, I'll happily donate the difference to my hydro store, because my caterpillar problem is GONE!

God bless.

:O)
hydroponica
15 years ago
Awesome, exactly what I was hoping to hear.

I predict that I won't have any caterpillar problems next year.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Hummingbird or Moth? See Why You Want Clearwings Around

By Pollination Press LLC

These fascinating moths may be helpful pollinators for your garden. Here’s how to coax them your way

Full Story

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Cornus Racemosa

By Pollination Press LLC

In eastern North America, plant gray dogwood for erosion control or privacy, and you'll get flowers, berries and maroon fall foliage too

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS Garden BFFs? Why Your Vegetables Are Begging for Companion Plants

By Noelle Johnson Landscape Consulting

Foster friendships among plants for protection from pests, pollination support and color camaraderie

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS A Formerly Weedy Lot Now Brims With Edibles and Honeybees

By Mitchell Parker

Photographers transform their barren backyard into an oasis filled with fruit, vegetables, honey, eggs and more

Full Story

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING World of Design: 10 Home Gardeners Show Us Their Sweet Summer Harvests

By Houzz

From New York to Tokyo, these gardeners have turned their yards, terraces and rooftops into places of bounty

Full Story

REGIONAL GARDEN GUIDES Southeast Gardener's September Checklist

By Gardening with Confidence®

Fertilize strawberries, plant a tree or two and beckon hummingbirds to your Southern garden this month

Full Story

BENEFICIAL INSECTS Attract Pollinators for a Productive Edible Garden

By Abundant City

You can lure bees, butterflies and birds into your yard with the right flowers and nesting spots

Full Story

EDIBLE GARDENS How to Grow Your Own Sweet Summer Crops

By Marianne Lipanovich

This guide will help any gardener get started on growing the freshest warm-season veggies and berries for summer

Full Story

142

EDIBLE GARDENS 12 Essential Herbs for Your Edible Garden

By Annie Thornton

Make home cooking and drinks even better with herbs plucked from your own backyard or windowsill pot

Full Story

125

SUMMER GARDENING How to Grow Basil

By Marianne Lipanovich

Bright color, quick growth and endless uses for cooking make this summer annual a winner in the garden or a pot

Full Story

Tomato Horned Caterpillars

Comments (6)

greystoke

freemangreens
Original Author

Related Discussions

hydroponica

freemangreens
Original Author

freemangreens
Original Author

hydroponica

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Tomato Horned Caterpillars

Comments (6)

greystoke

freemangreensOriginal Author

Related Discussions

hydroponica

freemangreensOriginal Author

freemangreensOriginal Author

hydroponica

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

freemangreens
Original Author

freemangreens
Original Author

freemangreens
Original Author