yea def want to keep him there because once those wasp eggs hatch, there will be a plethora of beneficial insects..... i love the sight of a fat hornworm covered in white wasp eggs

Just what I need more Wasps ,I don't like Wasps

Yeah! Go wasps!

dickiefickle,

If we had a problem with tomato/tobacco hornworms, I would welcome braconid wasps to my garden! Some of them even parasitize aphids. They cause no harm to humans, pets, structures, possessions or crops.

The propagation of braconid wasps and other beneficial insects is why we should avoid using insecticides if they aren't necessary. Wide spread "preventative" spraying is never a good idea.

Now the yellow jackets we get every summer...they are a different matter!

Betsy

Here is a link that might be useful: Images of Braconid Wasps

that picture/link was helpful to me!!! We have those little wasps. I am sure of it. My boys both caught one for a science project they did in 6th grade (two years in a row)

Maybe that is why I have not seen a hornworm in this yard?

I love reading here, I always learn a lot.

Karen

Funny thing is I saw a wasp in my garden for the first time ever after reading this post..... For once in my life I was happy for a wasp to be around : )

Here is a link that might be useful: Urban Farm Wife

I was having trouble fighting aphids this year until the wasps showed up. They are all over the leaves hunting at lightning speed and there are mummified aphids everywhere! I love that on top of killing the aphid you get another wasp to kill more aphids.

We have grown tomatoes for several years, and have never seen a single hornworm or pest on any of them. We never spray or use any form of chemical on any of our plants (except the stubborn weeds in the cracks of the driveway). Since our entire yard is bird-friendly (due to the lack of chemicals), we suspect the birds pick off the worms.

If you use BT on the plants to keep horned worms out, does that make your plants non-organic?

I had a bad horned worm problem last year. I even found a few with wasp eggs. Regardless of the status, I killed them all. I hate those things.

Does the horn sting? Has anyone tried to touch the horn?

"If you use BT on the plants to keep horned worms out, does that make your plants non-organic?"

Nope, BT or Bacillus Thuringiensis is a naturally occurring bacteria that is used to control caterpillars - It is approved for use in organic gardening.

I'm finding some small holes in my tomatoes which is causing the tomatoes to rot. Is this caused by hornworms or something else? Mainly on the bottom trusses.

Tracy, Do you see pill bugs? In my damp climate that is the first thing I look for. Of course, I also have slugs but you probably don't.