Throwback Thursday to the Tomato Hornworm

When you see these near your tomato plants...beware

Droppings like the ones in the first photo, usually mean this monster is noshing his way through your favorite tomato plants

As the summer kitchen garden is starting to take shape, be vigilant about looking for droppings on the leaves and ground around your tomato plants.  This cleverly camouflaged guys can look like a rolled up leaf on the tomato plant and you'll miss spotting them.  If they are left unattended, you will come back to your garden to find entire leaves and stalks missing from your plant.  They even can take a few good whacks out of the tomatoes, too.

He's Baaaaack. The Tabacco Hornworm

Most of the summer was spent without this creature munching through my tomato plants. The other morning I was greeted by little droppings on the sidewalk and I knew the hornworm was back. Searching the plant I discovered his well-camouflaged body. See the remainder of the tomato he ate?