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.

Tomato Hornworm--Devouring Tomato Plants

Tomato Hornworm Chewing Mouth Parts

Signs of the Hornworm's Presence

A nightly trim of many of the leaves on the tomato plant and droppings below probably indicates you have a tomato hornworm.  Don't neglect removing this critter because he can quickly remove most of the leaves and stems from your tomato plants.

Pat Welsh at Roger's Gardens--Tomato Hornworms

Pat Welsh spoke at Roger's Gardens today.  She is a speaker whose knowledge of everything garden is amazing.  Her topic this morning was organic gardening.  Here is her quick tip for organically handling the dreaded tomato hornworm.

"Organic" Treatment of Tomato Hornworm

Take a small, empty tuna can and nail or fasten it to your tomato stake or cage.  Place several peanuts (unshelled) in the can.  The scrubjay will see the peanuts, notice the hornworms and make dinner of both.  It's worth a try.

Ms. Welsh was a wealth of information and with our permission, stayed longer than planned to talk about onions, strawberries, Brussel sprouts in the garden.   Her book, Southern California Organic Gardening: Month by Month, was available.  It's over 450 pages and is full of great gardening advice and information.  Also, Ms. Welsh has a wonderful web site and blog worth visiting.

Back by Popular Demand: Hornworm

Watch this video with still photos and action video of the hornworm caterpillar.

Tomato Hornworm/ (Tabacco Hornworm)

Fee! Fi! Fo! Fum! Who is that eating all the leaves from my tomato plant?

Why it is none other than the tomato hornworm.* The tomato plant was being depleted of its leaves down to the stem. Lucky for me I spied this ravenous creature as I went to photograph some newly developing veggies. Even though they are the size of an index finger, they are so clever in their coloration and markings, they are hard to see. And yuck, it presented me with green goo when I tried to remove it from the stem on which it was napping. I repeat...YUCK!

The hornworm caterpillar is named after the magenta colored "horn" which is at the posterior end of this lovely creature.
*I misidentified this little fellow in my original post. Observant readers of my blog have indicated my error in their comments. I stand corrected and state that this little guy is actually a tabacco hornworm. Thank you faithful readers! :)


Watch this video with still photos and action video of the hornworm caterpillar.