I found my first tomatoe worm today

[momofdrew]

Waiting for the sun to go down more so I can go out and check all my maters... hopefully it'll be cooler then...

 

[lesa]

I just read something fascinating in Mother Earth News. They claim those tomato hornworms, turn into hummingbird moths- and most importantly will never eat an actual tomato- just the leaves... I've never had them, so I don't know how much damage they do, but I thought it was interesting.

 

[chris09]

I just read something fascinating in Mother Earth News. They claim those tomato hornworms, turn into hummingbird moths- and most importantly will never eat an actual tomato- just the leaves... I've never had them, so I don't know how much damage they do, but I thought it was interesting.

The Tomato Hornworm and the Tobacco Hornworm as a adult moth go's by the name's "sphinx", "hawk", or "hummingbird" moth.

The Tobacco Hornworm is closely related to and often confused with the very similar Tomato Hornworm. The tobacco hornworm can be distinguished by its seven diagonal lines (they look little white cigarets) on its sides; tomato hornworms have eight V-shaped markings.

I've never had them, so I don't know how much damage they do, but I thought it was interesting

Your lucky that you never had them, they will do a ton of damage in a garden to both the plants and the fruit.

Chris

 

[so lucky]

I don't think I have ever actually found a hornworm eating a tomato fruit itself, but they can de-foliate the plant pretty quickly, and then the tomatoes get sun-scald or the plant just withers up. It makes it a little harder for me to kill the hornworms knowing that it would turn into a hummingbird moth if I let it eat my tomato plant. However......:tools.. It's my plant!

 

[i_am2bz]

Mine were definitely eating the fruit (I found several chewed-on green maters) as well as the leaves...luckily one or two had brachnid moths so they've all gone bye-bye now!

 

[skeeter9]

Yuck! I found a huge hornworm today, too. Nasty things!!! Didn't find any more, but apparently it's time to start keeping an eye out.

 

[Carol Dee]

Husband is out doing battle with horn worm and japense beetle as I type! Nasty critters. The worms ARE eating the tomaotes as well as the leaves and the beetles are doing a number on the green bean foliage. Grrrr.

 

[Kassaundra]

I don't feel guilty at all, while the moth it turns to is beautiful, when it plants and cares for the tomato plant it can eat it!!!!!! :weight

 

[Kassaundra]

Husband is out doing battle with horn worm and japense beetle as I type! Nasty critters. The worms ARE eating the tomaotes as well as the leaves and the beetles are doing a number on the green bean foliage. Grrrr.

I'm embroiled in a losing war w/ the squash bug!!!

 

[skeeter9]

Amen, Kassaudra!!!! I have no problem squashing any bug that messes with my garden, no matter what it transforms itself into!