Coming Soon to a Tomato Near You...

Photo by the University of Georgia 

TOMATO HORNWORM

CHEWING INSECT   ǁ   VORACIOUS APPETITE   ǁ   DESTROY

THE PEST:  TOMATO HORNWORM  - One of the largest caterpillars found in North America reaching 3" to 4 1/2" long before pupating into their adult form.  Easily identified by their 8 diagonal white marks along the sides of their body and a black horn at the tail.  The horn will be as long as the caterpillar when small.  A close relative, the Tobacco Hornworm, will have one less set of diagonal markings and be sporting a red horn at the tail.  Actually, both insects are quite beautiful.

Tomato Hornworm Egg

THE DAMAGE:  Both types of larvae consume the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants in the nightshade family.  They have a huge appetite and can do substantial damage in a relatively short period.  It seems like they eat 24/7.  Okay, they are going to rest sometime, but I have never seen one not eating.  At Green Meadows, they primarily eat the leaves and fruit of tomato plants, but will occasionally move to other plants in the same nightshade family.

LIFE CYCLE:  Coming soon to a plant near you, grin!  In June and July, moths (Sphingidae Family) emerge from their pupae in the soil; lay eggs singly on leaves and stems; eggs hatch in a week; the larvae feed for a month; then pupate into the soil for the next generation.

CONTROL:  Both eggs and larvae can easily be handpicked from your plants.  Eggs resemble a small opaque pearl, laid singly on the host plant.  If using AzaMax as a preventative, moths are more likely to lay eggs elsewhere and caterpillars will feed less on treated plants.  If an infestation gets out of control, please see us for other organic measures.  To cut down on the number of moths that affect the garden, remove the overwintering pupae from your soil in either the fall or early spring.  You can feed the caterpillars to the birds on untreated plants, or place them in soapy water to drown.   

Happy Gardening,

Denise

Beds 25 & 29