July 27, 2004
Attack of the Killer Tomato Worms
EEEuuuuu!
The tomato horn worms are attacking my garden. I thought they were just cute little catepillars when I noticed one and removed it from my garden a couple of weeks ago. And I forgot about it. Now, lots of the stalks are eaten dead.
My neighbors tell me I have to pick them off and squish them dead. EEeeeuuu! I'm heading over to a garden center tomorrow to see what kind of spray I can use.
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Old Comments (95)
Jack Reissman on 07 Aug 2004
Last year my tomatoes were worm free.
This year I know I have at least one worm as the branches on one plant have been eaten and the worms "bunnies" are on the ground under the plant!
But unless you are lucky, you can never find the worm to "kill" it!
But I love tomatoes and they are all I grow in my limited space garden. That is unless you count the "weeds" which have no trouble at all with worms or any other kind of animal and keep growing and growing non stop!
Kevin Nugent on 10 Aug 2004
See the picture!
Elaine of Kalilily on 10 Aug 2004
Of course, that picture is my exaggeration of the actual situation. Actually, the horn worms come out toward the evening, so you can see them. They don't like the sun. They're as big as a human finger and are quite pretty, actually.
Chiu on 07 Sep 2004
They seem tasty on FearFactor!
MO on 10 Sep 2004
My husband steps on them and, depending on how big they are, they can make a loud pop and they ooze green blood! YUUUKKKKEEEEE!!!!!!
Dorothy on 10 Nov 2004
I live in the Arizona desert with NO tomato plants around us at all. Can someone explain where these worms might be coming here from and for?
maxine on 05 Feb 2005
i have a dicusting tomoto worm in my garden
it is feral it bit me now im sick fukin worms
richard hilbert on 25 May 2005
hi we used to hve a big problem with tomato worms but we found a solution.. chickens.. thats right bantum chickens love them and they also provide the garden with a great rich manure. the only bad part is you can only get one or two chickens and no roosters they cant tell time and they love to crow at 4 am so just chickens and your problems are solved unless you live in a area where you cant have them then pick the worms save them in a plastic bag and they are freezeable and dsave them up for your farmer friends they will thank you for them.. i had a lot of fun picking them when i was a kid but i dont miss them now ... lots of luck
Misty Mac on 18 Jun 2005
the tomato worms I am getting on our plants look like a prehistoric worms, big, dark green and wrinkles, it is the size of the end of your thumb.
Is that what ur all talking about?
Kristin on 27 Jun 2005
I live on a second-story apartment and am growing tomatoes. Today I noticed a tomato worm on my plant. Can anyone explain to me how this might have occured? The only thing I can assume is maybe a bird dropping or somehow making its way up the drain. How can I prevent them from destroying my plant??
Thanks
M K on 07 Jul 2005
I noticed some weird looking green grenade shaped turds on my deck, and then I looked at my potted tomatoes and peppers and I saw the beast. Oh, yes, they're pretty so they blend in, but this flaming fatboy was EATING MY BURPEE TOMATO PLANTS.
Well, He didn't get all of them yet, and had started on one and was working his way through the second one. I plucked him off with a plastic fork and tortured him with salt, citonella, and lit matches. Finally, I set him on fire, he rolled in the wax and suffocated. Nuff' said.
My godmother used to drown Japanese beetles in soapy water. I guess I learned my no-mercy policy from her, a Master Gardner.
-MK
kelli on 23 Jul 2005
Worms on my tomatoes aren't the hornworms, but cute little green worms that look like inchworms.
Any idea how to get rid of these, short of picking them off? They're little and my eyes, they ain't so good anymore.
kathy on 29 Jul 2005
way do the worms go under ground after they get
fat on my tomatos, and what do they do there?
KK on 01 Aug 2005
They come from some type of moth and as worms they are in the larvae stage. I have had to kill at least 7 of them this season as they were eating and destroying my tomato garden (Bear,DE). In the morning sun, they tend to hang on a branch near the top of the plant. You can usually find them by following their trail of excretement. Lovely, huh? I recommend using a fork or other sharp gardening tool to remove and kill them. Otherwise, they will eat and grow larger. Their blood is a nice green color too!
LRC on 05 Aug 2005
Actually, I like hornworms. They are fun to rear and just fascinating. i remove them from my tomato plants so I can have control over which leaves, trimmings they can eat. I supplement with horsenettle, groundcherry and black nightshade--all of which is good for the tobacco and tomato hornworms.
I agree with Elaine. These are sphinx moth larvae and are quite beautiful! The pic at the top is a TOBACCO, not a tomato worm.
Dorothy, hornworms are native insects and feed on native, wild plants. That is where they belong. Tomatoes were inroduced and the sphinx are drawn to them. Where are you finding hornworms if you do not have tomatoes? Just the moths drawn to your light? Hornworms on other plants? There are many species of sphinx, too, and only a very few of them eat nightshades. Some feed exclusively on manzanita, legumes, succulents and many species of trees. those are harmless to our gardens and yards.
bob on 06 Aug 2005
Will it kill me or eat me.
thank you
bob
Sue on 07 Aug 2005
I think they are nasty and freaky looking things. I want to get them off of my plants. I sprayes some insecticide on them and they are slowly falling to the ground. I want big red tomatoes, not some ugly green worms.
Janis on 08 Aug 2005
I want to know how to get rid of these BEASTS, short of finding them and picking them off. I did see a Cardinal on my tomato plants and was wondering what he was getting. Possibly the worms.
June on 09 Aug 2005
I have had them for years and never knew where they came from. Actually they are a beautiful specimen but I hate them.. You have to hunt for them and as far as I know they come out any time of the day. Once they get to a certain size, they can eat quite a bit of the plant in one day.
They are very aggressive. They have been known to bite. The only way to get rid of them is to pick them off the plant, I cut the branch off and kill them. I killed 19 today.
Bill on 09 Aug 2005
I came home from vacation and two of my tomato plants were destroyed. They ate the main trunk on one plant and the total top of another. Found 7 of these beast eating away. Picked them off and squashed their heads (back end kept moving). I noticed a small bee around their half dead bodies. Is there any spray I can buy to prevent these monsters. In the movie, "SOMMERBY" they have a scene about them and they used a soapy solution to prevent them. HELP!
Carol on 12 Aug 2005
I think they are ugly regardless of what anyone has to say. I just want to know how to get them off my plants without touching them or hunting them down. I guess I'll go to the greenhouse tomorrow!
Dr.Salwitch on 14 Aug 2005
I have seen the specimen, the tobacco worm. It is often eaten fried with green tomatos. The worms are very tasty and the juice is a natural homosexual aphrodisiac. The tickle your funny bone if placed on a sensitive area of skin.
Amy on 14 Aug 2005
I noticed a tomato worm in the garden a few nights ago. Today we picked off upwards of 20 and put them in a can of kerosene - not very "humane" but I'd rather have the tomatoes. I also noticed a lot of little hornets hanging around the tomatoes, and then read at some university website that these cocoon stage of these hornets hang off the tomato worms when the worms are small, then when the hornets hatch they kill the worm and fly off and kill more worms. So the moral of the story is, if you come across a worm with a lot of little white things dangling from it, leave it. They'll hatch and kill the worms. Nasty.
The Schlay on 14 Aug 2005
I have killed 4 or 5 of these little devils eating my Jalapenos and Hot Bannana peppers. Surprised me because I have grown hot peppers for years and never seen any animal or insect that messed with the hot stuff. Anyone know a cure? And... i don't think they are so cute? Whats wrong wit you people? :)
jerry grif. on 15 Aug 2005
I never had these monsters before, how do you get rid of them. picking them is a nasty job. HELP
Karen on 15 Aug 2005
After a green tomato worm destoyed one tomatoe plant, he went onto the next when I discovered him. Couldn't pull him off the branch myself (yuk). My husband got him loose from the branch and as he was pulling him away the worm struck out at my husband and tried to bite him. I let him crawl off with the horses thinking they might step on him, but he kept steering towards my plants so I had to kill him with a shovel. Yes, their blood is green! Yuk!
KCW on 17 Aug 2005
I just picked two of these nasty beasts off my tomato plants after noticing lots of bare stems at the tops. Touch them? No way. I cut off the stem they were lurking on with a scissors. One of the two had those white protrusions mentioned above. I put them both in one of those bug viewers for my kids to see when they get home from camp. I guess I will put the infected one back in the garden after the kids get a look at it. But I'm telling you, my skin is crawling right now. Call me a girl, but GROSS.
Fred on 18 Aug 2005
picked 4 of them nasty critters off my tomato plants, oh about a week and a half ago. get em every year so always on the look out. anyhow, this year, i noticed something for the first time. i saw some dying leafs that were kind of folded up so i took one off and opened it up and wa la! a baby worm! bout a 1/4 inch long. started looking around and found a couple of dozen dying leafs and all had baby worms in them! we have a few sheep that keep the weeds down. i cut these leaves off and tossed them over the fence and the sheep love em.
girlie on 19 Aug 2005
These nasty tomato worms are invading my garden too. I have really enjoyed my garden and canning this year for the first time and now I may never eat another tomato again. My skin is crawling too!! I would rather chop down my garden than touch the thing. EEEUUUU!
Chuck & :Lisa Gower on 21 Aug 2005
We took our dogs out tonight about 5:30pm to do their business and looked at our tomato plants and found about 15 of these nasty fat green worms. I immediately went to my computer and found this site and see that I am not the only one to have the same problem. They blend in with the plant extremly well so they are hard to see, but hopefully we got them all for today. All the tops of our plants are gone and some of the tomatoes were eaten up. We also found some black catepillars on them also. Aside from picking them off, does anyone know of anything you can spray on your plants to keep them off. We had no problem with them last year. This year in our yard we are seeing snakes, huge spiders and now these bugs. Most be the summer of the insect and reptile. I don't know. Any help from anyone???? Please post. Thanks!
Jen on 21 Aug 2005
Discovered this awful worm today. Only have 3 tomato plants and 2 of them are almost destroyed! Picked about 20 worms off and about 3/4s were big as my pointer finger. Mean suckers and hard to kill. How do I get rid of them other than picking them off?
Carol on 22 Aug 2005
E-yew -- yucky -- found them decimating my 7-ft tall moonflower vine -- which is now stripped bare of leaves in the top two feet. Little terrorists!
I can't pick them off -- and they won't shake off. Had a litle Bayer spray for rose and flowers, so sprayed what I had. Opened up Lowe's this morning for some more spray -- got Bayer for insects. It's got to be a plague from the Bible! Ooooooooooooeeeeeeee-yuck!
Spray hasn't killed them all yet, but I just found two more and sprayed them "dead on". I may kill my flower, but I'd rather it be ME than them!
What do I do to the soil this fall to kill their habitat? Yucky!
Dirt on 22 Aug 2005
Dudes, I keep these mangs for pets. Send them to me. Email me at twodsonegf@yahoo.com. Right now we have four. Leroy, baby Leroy, Gloria, and Carlos. They are awesome meongs. CHumon.
Rosa on 23 Aug 2005
Found 2 so far in my sons garden, One on the bean plant, and one had eaten the top out of his hot cayenne o
Picked them off and squashed them. Gues I'll have to spray with insectide.
Nancy on 23 Aug 2005
Is this the year of the tomato worm?? Never had these before! I took some scissors and snipped them in 2 sections. Yes the blood was green but you'd be green too if you were full of leaves and they even destroyed the tomatoes by eating chunks out of them all. Do I have to go through this again next year or can I catch this and stop it this year???
Cori on 25 Aug 2005
After seeing these very disturbing worms on my tomato plant I never want to eat tomatoes again. I feel like things are crawling on me. They are the ugliest things I have ever seen. I am making my husband throw the whole plant away.
Lorna on 25 Aug 2005
I found 8 worms after they had done considerable damage to a flowering vine in my yard. Did some research to get to know the enemy. Seems that the sphinx and hawk moth fly at night and lay eggs on the leaves of yummy plants. The eggs hatch in 5 days. The worms grow to finger length proportions and 'wrath of God' appetites within 3-4 weeks. Most sites recommend just hand picking and dumping in a bucket of water to kill them-I think kerosene is what they used in Somersby. The sites claim they don't bite or sting but will spit yucky stuff at you. They are kind of pretty if you are just watching them-but they can really cling to a branch or leaf and yanking them off is just creepy. I enlisted my 4 yr old son's help and he put them in a bug catcher to take to pre-school tomorrow. I'm not sure the teacher is going to appreciate this-but hey, it's science right? The worms dig into the ground and turn into pupae-some sites say for 2-4 weeks, others say all winter. Rototilling the area might help if you are suffering an infestation. The moths emerge in the spring, mate, and then fly away to lay more eggs.
Susan Sandor on 25 Aug 2005
Our tomatoe plants are plagued this year by tomatoe horm worms. Funny thing is we have not seen many of the moths that lay the eggs. Their tenacity in clinging to their food source makes the chore of hand picking a hazzard to you and your clothing. I learned the hard way after having green blood spurt onto my neck and stain my linen blouse. Now I place a plastic bag from the supermarket on my hand and pry them loose (there is plenty of plastic to protect you from any spurting blood) and turn the bag inside out. I then crush the worm inside the bag by foot. Sweet revenge for destroying my tomatoe plants.
Dave M. on 26 Aug 2005
Ive been told that soap and water will kill them.
Sherry K. on 27 Aug 2005
Thank goodness I found this site. I just found these horrible looking worms on my tomato plants today and had no idea what they were. These things are huge and creepy looking. Thanks everyone for the helpful info.
R. young on 27 Aug 2005
I was schooled this year on these ugly worms. First year of growing tomatos. I noticed some of the tomatos picked at an thought they were beetles then googled the areas tomato pests and saw these things next morning what do you know I found five of the ugly little suckers. I couldn' t pick them off I had a neighbor do it he used a ruler and a coffee can. Then I sprayed an insecticide called Sevin on the entire crop no more bugs of anykind. Thank God! I know the the worm turns into the hummingbird moth but I'd rather have a real hummingbird then these things.
J STRING on 28 Aug 2005
i have a black eyed susan vine that WON'T BLOOM! it was blooming when i bought it in early july but now...NOW BLOOMS. it's huge and growing so much that i've given it several haircuts. i'm having a big deck party next weekend and want it blooming by next weekend. any suggestions. i've tried several approaches recommendated by my local garden center and none have worked. just gave it a shot of bloom booster this week and am now hoping for the best. PLEASE HELP
John Burton on 28 Aug 2005
Tomato worms are the larvue stage of the Hawk Moth. Dipel dust found at Lowes or any garden center will get rid of them quick but must be applied as soon as the first evidence reveals their presence. Picking them off by hand is the next best way to rid them if you can see them.
Jim Ambrose on 28 Aug 2005
A green caterpillar with dozens of little white babies on its back showed up near the top of one of my cherry tomato plants about 2 weeks ago. Fortunately, the plants had already produced about 10 lbs. of tomatoes and the beast didn't cause me any grief.
I took a few photos of it, since it looked pretty cool. No horns like the one on this site. I don't know if it is the kind to defoliate the tomato plant as it disappeared a few days later without doing any apparent damage.
I'd be happy to pass on photos to interested parties.
Elaine on 28 Aug 2005
Actually, I superimposed the horn and the mouth of a picture I found of the hornworm. So it really doesn't look exactly like that.
Marianne on 29 Aug 2005
I'm in my 60's and have had tomato plants most of my life. For the past couple of years I've been on the 3rd floor of an apartment complex. I came home from work this evening & noticed that my 2 tomato plants were missing ALL their leaves on 4 stems. I then spotted one of these worms. It's incredible how well they blend in! I removed 7 of them with triple thickness paper towels. I then placed them into my garbage disposal - ran the water - turned on the switch - NO MUSS, NO FUSS!!! Never saw these things before in all my years of growing tomatoes. Any more in the future will meet the very same fate! Found your website after the funeral!!
Mr. Mike on 31 Aug 2005
Common Name: Tomato hornworm
Scientific Name: Manduca quinquemaculata (Haworth)
Order: Lepidoptera
Description: Caterpillars can reach 3 to 4 inches in length, are green with prominent diagonal white stripes along the sides of the body and a black-colored "horn" on the back end.
RevStarrRa on 03 Sep 2005
Brightest Blessings,
Well, I to noticed this plague as I went out to the garden. Well, me, and the kid notice this big worm looks a bit diffent though red point is more of a straight sharp point. I used two sticks to pull one off as it look poisonius. Threw it into the field thinking it was gone I was examining the others plants, and they were all filled with these. Wasn't much I could do at this point as they had took bites out all tomotes that were left. It is now the next day, and my tomotoes plants are no more. The hungry monsters ate them to the ground tomotoes, and all.
Gloria on 03 Sep 2005
Tonight I picked off 5 of these ugly things & gave them a gasoline bath which killed them. They are prehistoric eating machines & I did not appreciate their invading my tomato patch. I will check out my plants again tomorrow. I once saw one of these worms at a golf course - it was 5 inches in length and as big around as an adult person's thumb! Ugly as sin, also.
glenn on 05 Sep 2005
Where do these creatures come from??? Are they in the plants when I buy them??
Deb on 05 Sep 2005
I agree what is wrong with you people who think these things are beautiful! The destruction they are capable of is unbelievable. I agree this must be the year of the worm. We have been planting tomatoes for the past 14 years in our present location and my father and grandmother have planted for some 50 years plus before me. We have never had a problem with these ugly creatures.
I am beginning to wonder if these creatures didn't come from the bags of topsoil we purchased. I was not happy with the topsoil this year for it smelled bad and almost seemed like it had sand mixed in with it. Could the pupae have been in this soil? I would like to hear others thoughts on this.
yer mama on 07 Sep 2005
We are entirely organic. What, you'd rather have some heavy-metal or sulphur-based pesticide on your food than some local denizen that, while less than beautiful, will not hurt you in any way? He's one of god's...just like you! Pick him off with gloves, apologize, and squash him. He passes absolutely no diseases to you!
Peg on 07 Sep 2005
Well my dad left his tomato plant with me this week to "plant sit." As the days passed and I kept noticing leaves missing, I found one of these critters and thankfully found this site, after looking harder I got 4 off his plant and hope there are no more! I agree with the other post though, if you are going to grow your own tomatos dont ruin them with pesticides... just pick off the little critters and salvage what you can, takes more time but definatley worth it! thanks for all the posts.
Nanny on 07 Sep 2005
I, too, have these buggers this year. I found one today that was covered by small white things- looked like eggs. They were definitely on the outside, and I actually saw one as it appeared to be leaving the worm's anus ( if that's what it's called in those creatures!) Now I'm wondering if they had been laid on the worm by another insect, perhaps that wasp that kills them. Any thoughts?????
Brenda on 08 Sep 2005
Put a little sevin dust on these giants. It will take care of them in very short order. Good luck!
Mary on 08 Sep 2005
My husband picked 14 of these disgusting creatures off my plants last night. He stopped at 14 because he was tired of killing them. I probably have no more tomatoes as of this morning. If you see "small white things" on the worms, leave them alone as this is a good thing. Disgusting, yes, but a good thing in the world of nature. It is probably small braconid wasps. Larva that hatch from wasp eggs laid on the hornworm feed on the inside of the hornworm until the wasp is ready to pupate. The cocoons appear as white projections protruding from the hornworms body. If such projections are seen, leave the infected hornworms in the garden. The wasps will kill the hornworms when they emerge from the cocoons and will seek out other hornworms to parasitize.
Jennifer on 08 Sep 2005
I too just found 2 on our patio plant last night, as the dog knocked one off of the plant. Really creepy looking. Since the plant looked so bad I clipped the entire thing off and let it drop into the flower garden below. No I am concerned that they will damage my flower garden. Any possibility that they eat anything other than vegetables?
Jennifer on 08 Sep 2005
I too just found 2 on our patio plant last night, as the dog knocked one off of the plant. Really creepy looking. Since the plant looked so bad I clipped the entire thing off and let it drop into the flower garden below. Now I am concerned that they will damage my flower garden. Any possibility that they eat anything other than vegetables?
Dave on 08 Sep 2005
Stop!!!! all you have to do is pick the branch they are on off and toss them they make a cacoon and turn into a moth that flys and looks almost like a hummingbird... Yest they can be very hungry but dont kill then you will love to see them fly around...I killed them my myself until I read a article about them. If you want to find out for your self, get a big pickle jar and get 1 of the worms and put some tomatoe limbs in the jar (the small limbs) poke holes in the top of the jar lid and wait a few weeks, they will spin a cacoon and then oout will pop a very beautiful moth leave it in the jar until the wings dry out and release it..I swore they were humming birds until I read the article and now know people who pick them and do as I explained. You will be totally amazed, they won't bit you and yes they look wicked but grab them and or cut off the branch they are on and throw them alittle ways from your plant they won't return they will go thru there cycle of being a beautiful moth/bird like creature. they fly exactly like humming birds, up and down, forward and backwards and VERY FAST....you can almost always find them at the TOP of your tomatoe plants where the limbs are small and tender just look slowly and you will see them... hope this opens a new door for you on this amazing worm...take care!!!! Dave in Kansas
Debbie Ashok on 09 Sep 2005
All this about turning into a beautiful hummingbird is great but my tomatoes have been destroyed before I could eat any. They not only eat the leaves and stem but also the tomatoes, all of them. Do they also lay eggs on my lawn and eat its roots? Do they multiply extremely the next year if not destroyed? I love nature but this is too much. Help!
Nan on 10 Sep 2005
I have found a way to deter these creatures! Mix Ivory liquid soap with water in a spray bottle and spray your plants, it's natural and the worms don't like it!! Just wash your tomaotes before eating them. Do this often and it will keep them at bay... they come back but keep spraying and you can save your plants and stems.
Adam on 11 Sep 2005
i found 3 of these big creeps on my plants last-nite. i had to peel them off then i stomped on 'em. all three had the white fuzz balls mentioned above but i didn't want to leave it there just to eat more of my tomato plants so i'll hunt more tonight. they look neat but i would rather have big healthy tomatoes then neat lookin' worms.
Bern on 12 Sep 2005
The other days my wife showed me a horned tomato worm she had picked off one of our plants. It was covered with what looked like grains of white rice. Are these wasp larvae ?
I have heard that if you wrap a strip of cardboard with aluminum foil and circle a new plant with it, the worm can't get passed it. I have not personally triedit-will do next year.
Lisa on 12 Sep 2005
I found this crazy, colorfully-horned, green, huge worm in my yard. I have seen plain tomato worms before, but this is very strange looking. The horns are different colors, yellow, blue, and orange with smaller pickley horns sticking out of them. Does anyone know what this worm is called?
tom and Cindy on 12 Sep 2005
We find several of these worms on our plants daily. We have eight plants and we pick between 3 and 8 worms a night. We were wondering where in the world these came from. We did not have a garden last year as it was our furlow year. We have several different varieties of tomatoes so, the worm has a choice of dinning for the evenning. Now we get rid of them by cutting the stem off and burning it. I will be trying the pickle jar the next time we have to pick. I would like to see the butterfly/moth that God has created through this little worm.
Keren on 13 Sep 2005
I am so disgusted!!!! These worms are in my garden too!!! I can't even pick my tomatoes without coming eye to eye with one of these nasty things. Nothing cute, neat, interesting about them. They are just disgusting. I found one the size of my thumb from the tip to the wrist today. AND AS FAT!!! Too bad you can't eat these things. They would make good eatin'!!! Or maybe you can, but I am not interested. All I know is I want them gone. I don't want to have to fork them. I just want a spray to spray directly on them and see them wriggle and die. I tried powder, but that didn't work. Ugh....even after my garden is dead for the season, I am still always going to think of those fat, nasty things being in my backyard. I will have to have my husband pull the dead plants cause I'm not touching them.
Lynne on 14 Sep 2005
I have been gardening for years and never before had a problem with these worms. I just clipped four of them(all with white eggs all over them)off of my tomato plants and disposed of them. I will continue to garden, but I don't think I have ever been so grossed out in my life. Thanks for the Ivory soap tip, I will try that...anything almost to make them go away!!!
Lynne on 14 Sep 2005
I have been gardening for years and never before had a problem with these worms. I just clipped four of them(all with white eggs all over them)off of my tomato plants and disposed of them. I will continue to garden, but I don't think I have ever been so grossed out in my life. Thanks for the Ivory soap tip, I will try that...anything almost to make them go away!!!
Lynne on 14 Sep 2005
I have been gardening for years and never before had a problem with these worms. I just clipped four of them(all with white eggs all over them)off of my tomato plants and disposed of them. I will continue to garden, but I don't think I have ever been so grossed out in my life. Thanks for the Ivory soap tip, I will try that...anything almost to make them go away!!!
chithead on 14 Sep 2005
was wondering if the ivory shop thing works? I am in ohio and have lots of them. They are hogs, and I want them gone.
Andrea on 15 Sep 2005
I have to say that I have never experienced my skin crawling until I pulled one of these worms off my tomato plant! Yuck! My son was quite inquisitive... so, this worm is in a jar in front of me. I do NOT want any more of these in my garden. From the research I just did 1) the eggs are laid by a type of moth 2) they grow and pupate through eating leaves 3) they will eventually grow into a moth (after they eat all your veges)! BUT, does anyone know an organically friendly way to get rid of these worms? I have noticed people mentioning chemicals; is there any other suggestions?
Prblmsolved on 16 Sep 2005
I know its nasty stuff, but Ortho Sevin is undoubtedly the best insecticide for preventative maintenance on fruits and vegetables. We get hit with Japanese beetles early in the summer on our grapes, raspberries, and green beans, and I use the garden hose bottle of Sevin because you can spray a large area quickly and pretty accurately as long as you have little or no wind. apply this stuff to your tomatoes mid-august and you won't see any T-worms. Just be sure to wash your hands after contact, and the tomatoes before use. Sevin does tend to wash off in the rain so you may need to re-apply after such.
Elaine of Kalilily on 16 Sep 2005
I'm amazed at how many people have had trouble with these worms this summer, often for the first time. Actually Sevin IS the best stuff to use, and I should have remembered that because it was recommended to me by the New York State Botonist when I worked at the State Museum. My rugs were infested with fleas from my outdoor cat, and he suggested dusting the rugs with Sevin and putting newspapers down all over and keeping the cat in another room for 24 hours. And then vacuuming it all up and do it again a week later. It worked. Apparently Sevin is a powerful agent but has a very short active life. And it does wash off easily, such as outdoors by the rain. You have to apply it on your garden every once in a while and make sure you wash the produce before eating. I know we all like to do things without pesticides, but if you're going to have to use one, Sevin is the one. And this is my weblog, and I'm not being paid by Sevin to say this. I'm just reporting what I was told by a practical professional naturalist. I'm sorry I didn't remember that last year when my tomatoes were demolished by that green beastie.
Jody Lynn on 18 Sep 2005
It has been seveal years since we've had a problem with tomato worms here in Northern California. This year has been a nightmare! We found one that is about 2 1/2" long, definitely a mega beast. Although the kids have had much fun hunting them, Seven does work great!!
Sandi on 19 Sep 2005
Be sure to add a tablespoon or so of any veg. oil in the spray bottle with the Ivory soap and water and that way the soapy stuff will stick to your plants and will work for a longer time and won't drip off with the morning dew or evening moistness in the air.
EILEEN VINCENT on 20 Sep 2005
After weeks of removing them from our tomatoes, some days over 30, in various sizes, both tomato and tobacco, to be sqwished; their 'green blood' staining the driveway....
I am sat here at dusk watching my moonfowers open, noticing 3 large moths fluttering beautifully around the vine visiting each flower. Yes, something so very ugly and distructive does turn in to something quite beautiful, art in motion....
Sue on 22 Sep 2005
I WENT OUT TO MY GARDEN TONIGHT TO PICK TOMATOES AND NOTICED A TURD PERCHED ON THE TOMATO CAGE. IT DIDN'T LOOK LIKE A BIRD AND TOO SMALL FOR A SQUIRREL. THE GROUND WAS COVERED WITH TURDS AND SOME OF MY TOMATOES WERE PILED WITH THEM...GROSS!!! WHEN MY HUSBAND CAME HOME HE CAME OUT TO THE GARDEN AND I ASKED HIM IF HE KNEW WHAT IT WAS CAUSE IT WAS EATING THE HECK OUT OF MY TOMATOES. HE DIDN'T KNOW...AND THEN I SAW IT, THE BIGGEST, UGLIEST, GREEN GIANT TRYING TO HIDE BEHIND A TOMATO. I PICKED UP THE BRANCH HE WAS CLINGING TO AND I TOLD MY HUSBAND TO GET HIM OFF. HE WENT TO THE GARAGE FOR A PAIR OF GLOVES BECAUSE A COUPLE DAYS AGO WE PICKED SOME OTHER KIND OF WORM OFF OUR DILL..THEY WERE A GOOD SIZE TOO BUT MAN DID THEY STINK..STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE. ANYWAY, AS MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING HIS GLOVES I WAS YELLING AT HIM FROM THE GARDEN AS I SAW ANOTHER WORM AND ANOTHER ONE. WHILE I WAS YELLING I SWEAR, THE WORM ON THE BRANCH I WAS HOLDING UP WAS LISTENING TO ME. THE MORE I TALKED THE MORE HE SAT UP, I WAS GETTING A LITTLE NERVOUS AS I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WOULD JUMP AT ME. MY HUSBAND PICKED THEM OFF THE PLANTS AND THREW THEM AGAINST A TREE....THEY'RE DEAD YOU COULD TELL BY THE NOISE THEY MADE WHEN THEY MADE CONTACT WITH THE TREE...NOTHING COULD LIVE THROUGH THAT. AND I'M WITH THE REST OF SOME OF YOU..THAT WAS 5 HOURS AGO AND MY SKIN IS STILL CRAWLING AND ITCHING.
brittany on 24 Sep 2005
hey everyone !
i found a tomato worm in the middle of the road today and i saved its life ! then i realized it was a tomatoe horn worm when i got home. im not going to kill it becuase it is my favorite friend. his name is Tom Ado. hes so cute and we gave him tomato leaves. im going to the fair today and im bringing it with me so show some friends. he's the best and he's going to be my ride buddy. = ) im so happy i found Tom. he almost died. well i thought he did but then when i picked him up he was alive . YAY !! He pooped in my cup though. silly little Tom. B.R.
AnotherNancy on 28 Sep 2005
I have not seen these disgusting creatures in YEARS (very thankfully) until this year. I have given up after plucking without count and presented the worms with my once beautiful tomatoes. The kids want to grow one into a moth...but doesn't the moth lay the eggs that grow into the wormzillas? I'm really not that interested in seeing a pretty moth that will propagate a voracious parasite. I have not seen any postings on how to prevent them for next year other than tilling. I notice from other postings that hornworms are nightshade eaters, should I be checking my eggplants?
Melody on 02 Oct 2005
My daughter found this site after I complained to her about the long green worm on my tomatoes. Thanks for the best laugh I've had in a long time. I loved all the techniques for killing them. I gave up today, after all the damage, the cut the plant down to the stem. I read an article saying Bt, bacillus thuringiensis, is a caterpillar killer, and the best way to take care of the problem. I, too, have never seen these hornworms. So, no tomatoes this year.
sarah on 04 Oct 2005
hiamsarah.a worm bit meAug.30
Dee on 05 Oct 2005
Where do these Nasty Tomato Worms come from They have destroyed my tomato plants. I just wish i knew where they come from and how to stop them from attackin my plants
Matt on 07 Oct 2005
Yep, same situation as a lot of people. My parents have been planting tomato's in the garden in their home for 15+ years, never saw these bugs, never had a problem.
They bought these plants from Home Depot, and thats the first year they bought from them. So maybe there's some coincidence there?
Kara on 28 Oct 2005
As a little girl growing up in Michigan, I remember my dad finding these gross, nightmarish 'creatures' on his tomato plants. Now 20+ years later, living in Arizona, my worst fears have come back! We found TWO of them in a bush in our yard last night! (and we don't even have any tomato plants) Freakin freaks of nature!
AuntS.B. on 01 Jul 2006
The amount of plant, leaf and tomato this worm can eat in one day is amazing.
I cannot stomach killing it by squashing or picking it off. So I hold an open zip-lock bag below the leaf or tomato it's working on and with scissors, I clip it off and it drops into bag. Zip it up. Then into garbage bin. No muss;no fuss
I am gonna try the Ivory soap,water and veg.oil mix and i'll post how it works for me.
Chris on 13 Jul 2006
I noticed these worms a couple days ago--just two of them and not really THAT big yet. So I grabbed garden gloves, picked them off and threw them over a hill. I thought throwing them into the pond would be cruel. Then today I come out to check the tomato plants and there are two more FAT, BIG worms. I thought the two little suckers I threw over the hill came back! I took those 2 fatties and threw them into the wheelbarro full of water because I was too creeped out to walk all the way down to the pond with these in my hands--even with the gloves on. Came back two hours later and started looking really hard and found 2 more. They're nasty, nasty, nasty and they creep me out. But reading all 80+ of these posts has really made me crack up and actually laugh out loud several times. I'm glad I'm not the only one freaked out by these things. I, too think it's something to do with where the plants come from. Maybe wherever they kept them till being shipped was infested with those moths. Who knows. I grew several plants myself, and have 2 I bought at Lowe's. The Lowe's plants are the ones with the worms.
Anyway, I'm going to Lowe's tonight and buying Sevin.
Chris on 13 Jul 2006
I noticed these worms a couple days ago--just two of them and not really THAT big yet. So I grabbed garden gloves, picked them off and threw them over a hill. I thought throwing them into the pond would be cruel. Then today I come out to check the tomato plants and there are two more FAT, BIG worms. I thought the two little suckers I threw over the hill came back! I took those 2 fatties and threw them into the wheelbarro full of water because I was too creeped out to walk all the way down to the pond with these in my hands--even with the gloves on. Came back two hours later and started looking really hard and found 2 more. They're nasty, nasty, nasty and they creep me out. But reading all 80+ of these posts has really made me crack up and actually laugh out loud several times. I'm glad I'm not the only one freaked out by these things. I, too think it's something to do with where the plants come from. Maybe wherever they kept them till being shipped was infested with those moths. Who knows. I grew several plants myself, and have 2 I bought at Lowe's. The Lowe's plants are the ones with the worms.
Anyway, I'm going to Lowe's tonight and buying Sevin.
Bill on 27 Jul 2006
Here in East Tennessee I have found these ugly worms tonight. I have grown tomatos for years and never have I seen these ugly, creepy eating worms. So tonight I pulled the darn things off, placing them very carfully in a freezer bag and poured cloro bleach into the bag. They swam fought each other because there were about a dozen in the bag. So my wife came to the computer found all these comments and had some good laughs and tommorrow we will be spraying our vines with the ivory soap mix and see if it works. Thanks for the good laughs and also advice.
_Aaron_ on 28 Jul 2006
Hmmm, I already knew these little $41%^*&* could be trouble, but last year I only found one and had far more damage from sun scald.
I was looking around the internet to find out more about the tomato horn worm, and possible treatments, when I stumbled across this site. I was prompted to want to learn more tonight, after discovering a full grown adult had eaten 2/3's of my once beautiful red bell pepper plant. Of course it ate top down, so sun scald is guaranteed on the 4 or 5 peppers currently on the plant, unless I cut them soon.
I had discovered another earlier this same evening inside of a Brandywine tomato. I knew there was one in the plant by the tell tale turd trail (black not green), but couldn't find it after about 15 minutes last night. Tonight I noticed discoloration on a baby Brandywine, and sure enough, there was a hole in the top. This little bugger bored in and was eating the tomato inside out. No wonder I couldn't find him in the leaves!
The super huge fully adult that pillaged my bountiful Home depot bought pepper, accomplished this in less than a day. I look at my garden EVERY night.
There may be something to starting from seed, rather than buying from home depot. That is how I had to do things this year, when last year I was about 50/50 store bought and seed. Last year I found only one and had no problems after that. This year I have found somewhere around 15 so far, some the fully blown hardened horn behemoths.
By the way, they squirt juice when you snip the horn off. I think they may have a requirement of the horn remaining attached to their bodies for them to live. Not the typical dark green blood composed of your tomatos lifeblood, but a clearish liquid.
Atlanta Gardener on 28 Jul 2006
Tiny Gladiators (Sphinx 5-maculata, to be precise). I just spent the better part of an hour capturing the viscious little SOBs in the garden. I'm surprised that no one has talked about their violent nature. Put them together in a cage, step back and enjoy the show.
I'm glad its Friday. My plan is to tie little insects onto their backs and let them fight to the death in front of the neighborhood kids.
Enjoy
Huckleberry on 29 Jul 2006
I picked off 4 of them Today. As soon as the sun set, they all came to the top branches and were easier to spot. Their color is a couple of shades lighter than the plants, which made them easy to see after sunset. Non of them were carrying wasp eggs. They seem to like the grape tomatoe plants more than the other varietys I have growing. I haven't seen any on the pepper plants ( YET ).
toddler mama on 30 Jul 2006
This is the second year in a row that we've had these big monster worms. Yesterday, I found two and put them in a tupperware container for my husband to deal with - I can't stomach killing them myself! But my 3-year old son found the container first and now we have them as pets. (He was SO excited!) It's half interesting and half disgusting to have them in the house. My son can't wait until they turn into moths. I'm not sure we'll keep them for more than a few days - but for now, I've secretly named them Mr. & Mrs. Evil. My son just informed me, however, that their real names are "Horny Horny" and "Horny Caterpillar Caterpillar". Oh, the joys of motherhood! No one told me it would be like this.
Steve on 24 Aug 2006
I grew all my tomatoes from seed this year, and still have these worms, so I don't think they have to be imported. They probably flew in from a neighbors yard. I don't know at this point because I don't know anyone nearby that grows vegetables. One other thing I didn't see mentioned is if you try to pry them off, they make this little clicking sound, which is very creepy. My method of attack now is to cut them in half with some garden scissors. It's a little gross, but kills and removes at the same time. You get used to the gore after awhile. I'm not interested in seeing the beautiful moth, since it will just re-infect the next year if I allow it to live.
misterzerox on 17 Sep 2006
This is the first year I've found them, the last four years we had other problems, like blossom end rot-never got big enough for them to eat I guess.
I found two, a little one which I flung across the yard and a big juicy one. I couldn't pull him off, too strong so I cut off the vine and stuck the whole thing it in a plastic container with a green tomato I pulled off earlier because all the tomatoes were getting these little knicks in them. Now that I think about it, the knicks are probably from the birds pecking them off. I can't bear to kill it, it's too gross. Its markings are so funky, and it's got a little sharp red spine on its butt. It hasn't bit me yet. I may bring it to my sister and she'll put it on the grill, she says they burst. I really don't want to cook anything on a grill that has tomato worm insides all over it. We have a bottle of insecticidal soap that I'll try.
I'm actually more concerned about the infestation of mice that we have, which the stupid cats won't even try to catch.
kayakguy on 18 Sep 2006
I found a satisfying way to deal with them. I have a huge ant hill (with huge ants) on the outskirts of my garden. I dig a 6 ich deep hole in the hill and just plop the worms in. In a few seconds the worms are covered with hundreds of ants, writhing in pain as they get bitten over and over and over for 15 or 20 minutes until they are dead. Sweet revenge for what has been done to my Lemon Boy Tomato plants!