Tomato hornworms are an unforgettable tomato pest. They’re big, green, and while somewhat pretty, have a terrifying aura about them.
Considered one of the most destructive garden pests, tomato hornworms can quickly wreak havoc on your tomato crops.
These monstrous caterpillars seemingly devour entire tomato plants overnight, making them a true force to be reckoned with.
Unfortunately, tomato hornworms are prevalent across the continent and chances are, you’ll have to deal with them at some point.
Luckily, these little creatures are easy to control, if caught in time. There are also several easy preventative measures you can put into place to keep these destructive pests off your beloved tomato plants.
Tomato Hornworms
Identifying Them
Unlike other common tomato pests, tomato hornworms are easy to spot, thanks to their sheer size. These caterpillars can be between three and five inches long – adding to that terrifying aura of theirs.
Despite their name, the tomato hornworm doesn’t only munch on tomatoes. You can often find them nibbling away on other members of the Solanaceae family, most notably peppers, eggplants, and potatoes.
As
So, you have tomato hornworms in your garden chewing up your plant leaves and you need to get rid of them. Pronto.
These voracious, large, green caterpillars are coming out overnight and destroying your tomato, eggplant, pepper plant, or maybe even your tobacco plant!
They’re truly a hungry hungry caterpillar indeed.
So, how do we get rid of them naturally without chemicals and just use plain old DIY home remedies?
Read on, friend. Let&#;s protect your veggies from these little, hungry buggers. Don&#;t be afraid of their large size, they&#;re gentle giants that just have a big appetite.
But we can help with that, right?
In this guide, we’ll talk about:
- Why you have hornworms
- Where they’re coming from
- How they’re getting on your tomato plant
- Various ways to get rid of them naturally (DIY style)
- Natural techniques to keep them away permanently
- Other goodies notes, and common questions about hornworm control and elimination
By the end of this pest guide, you should have a solid foundation to manage and eradicate them from your garden plants with ease.
Bookmark this page because you’ll want to easily jump back to it for reference.
If you have any questions
Have you noticed big green caterpillars eating your tomato plants? Then your crops are likely being feasted on by tomato hornworms – or their closely related cousins, tobacco hornworms.
Common tomato pests, these greedy caterpillars can quickly strip the foliage of tomato plants as well as peppers, eggplants, and potatoes. You will need to act fast to get rid of hornworms, as they can get through a vegetable plot in record time.
Tomato hornworms are larvae of the five-spotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata), and are more prevalent in northern states, while tobacco hornworms are larvae of the Carolina sphinx moth (Manduca sexta) and are more common in the South.
Managing these pests is key to growing perfect tomatoes by nurturing healthy, productive plants.
What Does A Tomato Hornworm Look Like?
Despite their large size – up to 4 inches in length – tomato hornworms tend to blend into foliage, so you may first see their destruction before you notice them.
Regularly check plants for stripped leaves, large holes, flower loss, and fruit damage. You may also spot the worms’ black droppings on leaves.
Tomato and tobacco hornworms look similar but w
Hornworms som infekterar tomatplanten kallas lämpligen tomathornworms, eller Manduca quinquemaculata. Enligt University of Minnesota är tomathornmaskar ett problem i hemmaparkar än de är på en kommersiell bondgård. Du kan känna igen en tomathornorm med de åtta V-formade markeringarna på hornmaskens undersida. Hornworms kan växa upp till 4 inches i längd. Om du upptäcker några tomat hornworms på dina tomatplanter, kan du vidta åtgärder för att bli av med dem innan de förstör dina tomatplanter.
Undersök hornormarna innan du vidtar några åtgärder. Om tomathornwormen har några vita bomullsliknande säckar på den, låt hornmaskarna vara. Det här är ägg av en parasitvål. När dessa ägg kläcker kommer de att förstöra de andra hornmaskarna naturligt.
Blanda tvål och vatten i en hink. Plocka tomathornmaskarna från dina tomatplantor en efter en och släpp dem in i hinken, där maskarna kommer att drunkna. Denna metod fungerar bra för små hornormsinfestationer.
Spray eller damm Bacillus thuringiensis, Bt för kort, på dina tomatplanter. Denna naturliga produkt kommer i pulverform eller flytande form. Se till att du kommer under bladen, eftersom det är här hornmas
.