2008 was my first year growing tomatoes here in America, and although I'd grown them before in England I'd never encountered the tomato hornworm. I'd been on some gardening forums and heard so much about them that I was beginning to think I was going to get the whole season over without spotting one. I'd had problems with cabbage white caterpillars eating my radish greens but then in September after seeing some destruction on my tomato plants I saw this.
Now understand that this hornworm (and his buddy) was about 2" long so they'd been feasting up a storm for a while, I just hadn't noticed them. They are pretty tough to spot, so look closely at your tomato plants!!! Especially if they are missing leaves/branches. The problem for me is that I became fascinated with them. They are beautiful in a weird way, with their markings and horny bottom! I think the markings especially with the mock eyes and the diagonal lines. I'll say this for them too, they grab onto the branches really tight! I had trouble removing them from my tomato plants!
So why post these pics now? Because the new season is starting and tomatoes are pretty much on everyones grow list. Be aware of what you are looking for and take action early! These little buggers can strip plants bare in a day or two so get to know your plants and check them often!
Hi..
I have not seen any similar worms coming near my 6 minus 1 tomato plants yet .... happy gardening! ~ bangchik
I'll sacrifice my tomatoes to get the adult 'mutant'. The adult stage is a Hawk moth sometimes known as a "hummingbird" moth. Ever since my wife came running and yelling excitedly that I needed to see the mutant hummer I've always been fond of them
I've never come across these in my garden, but my husband was raised in CA and he's told me a lot about them. Too bad they are so destructive because they are sure have pretty stripes!
In all the years I gardened on Long Island, New York, I never saw a tomato hornworm. Then last year, the first year I grew tomatoes in Virginia - just little pots in the sun, we hadn't had time to plant the real veg garden yet - we were infested overnight with these ugly things. They stripped an entire plant bare in one night. Locals tell me they are related to the tobacco worm, and tobacco was a crop grown here for a hundred years before the farmers switched to cattle in the 1940's, so I'm betting that's why they are so prevalent.
An easy organic fix is MARIGOLDS. That's right, marigold flowers. Just plant them around the tomatoes and the hornworms won't come near them. I picked off the ones I could see, planted marigolds, and had no more trouble.
We are planning marigolds surrounding all of our veg beds this year since they repel so many nasty bugs.
Good luck gardening in the states and stop by the Seven Oaks home & garden blog when you get a chance!
Thank you for your help!