How to find Tomato hornworms
catherinet (5IN)
6 months ago
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beesneeds
6 months agocooper8828
6 months agoRelated Discussions
Tomato Hornworm larvae: sift them out?
Comments (13)Hey ZachS: You've got the markings right. I read a good way to remember the difference between the tomato and tobacco hornworms and have never wondered if I was mixing them up since then. Just imagine: The tobacco hornworm is a critter that loves to smoke tobacco in cigarettes and puts pictures of the cigarettes (straight lines) on his body...ta da..straight lines= tobacco hornworm Whereas, the tomato hornworm, is a healthy tomato loving insect who hates smokers, maybe is even an ex-smoker himself and puts crushed, broken cigarette (V-shaped) markings on his body. And Donna, the pupae are about the size of a longer than average cigarette butt, and dark colored. I'm not sure if they would fit through the screen of your compost sifter if they were lined up just perfectly, but they are easy to see if soil is spread out. Of course, an adult hornworm moth could still come in from elsewhere to lay eggs on your plants even if you eliminated all pupae from your soil. If you are eliminating all the hornworms (larvae) before they pupate, then I doubt it would be worth sifting your soil since there are likely few, if any, pupae in it....See Moreanother bug to the long list this year: tomato hornworms
Comments (8)This is my first year growing tomatoes but here is what I have learned from the forum...you can hand pick off the large adults if you are brave and either drown them in a bucket of soapy water or remove them to a different location well away from your plants. Yeah, not me. I cut them in half with my clippers. I am terrified of bugs and refuse to touch them. That is what my husband is for. I would be cautious to think that they are the least of your pest concerns. A full sized bad boy can take out an entire tomato plant overnight. They eat a lot FAST and they reproduce almost as bad as bunnies. I spray a BT (bacillus thuringiensis) solution every 7 to 10 days. It is very safe for you and your plants and has been working wonders. I would suggest using some sort of spray if you do not have a good supply of parasatizing wasps (like me). As for the life cycle, I do not know exacts. I would try googling that if you can't find the answer here....See Moreare these tomato hornworms, or a tobacco hornworms?
Comments (9)Having trouble keeping the two hornworms straight? I recently heard this tall tale and will never forget which is which again: The tobacco hornworm likes to smoke tobacco products so much that he has cigarette shaped markings on his side (the straight diagonal lines). The tomato hornworm does not like tobacco....maybe is even an ex-smoker. He has broken cigarettes (V shaped markings) adorning his sides. I've found lots of these caterpillers on tomatoes and a few on potatoes, but never found any on the nearby peppers even though all three are favorite foods. After seeing what's left of your pepper, I'm glad they never made it to my peppers. Tomatoes always grow much quicker for me and still stand a chance after the hornworms. The peppers would probably be done for the year....See MoreDid you know that the tomato hornworm turns into...
Comments (8)thanks to the tomato hornworm my tomatoes were continuously ate upon, even with Sevin spraying. they are also hard to detect. they are so much the same color as the tomato leave or stem that they are hard to locate and before you know it your tomato is gone! these worms also love other plants so i'll let them have the other plants and keep my tomatoes safe! Sorry :(...See Morecatherinet (5IN)
6 months agobeesneeds
6 months agocatherinet (5IN)
6 months agosocalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24
6 months agocatherinet (5IN) thanked socalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24catherinet (5IN)
6 months agonanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)
6 months agolast modified: 6 months agocatherinet (5IN) thanked nanelle_gw (usda 9/Sunset 14)catherinet (5IN)
6 months ago
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socalgal_gw Zone USDA 10b Sunset 24