I can hardly stomach the photos of these things

[zinnia11]

YUCK! What in the heck are these things and how do I get rid of them?

[duajones]

I dont know what they are but you have in infestation it appears. BT in liquid form at 1 TBSP per gallon should do the trick but I would pick as many by hand before they denude your plants

[feldon30]

That's quite an infestation of fruitworms/leafroller caterpillars you've got there.

BT (Bacillus Thurigiensis) -- sold as Dipel Dust or BT liquid concentrate... Problem Solved. BT is completely organic (it's a naturally occurring bacteria that gives those little guys a chronic case of indigestion) and I ideally sprayed once every week or two.

If you want to get rid of those guys, post haste get a twig or brush or something and knock them into a plastic cup of soapy water.

[zinnia11]

Thanks for your reply, feldon. I just got back from Lowes with two types of spray. They are both made by Garden Safe. One contains Pyrethrin, Piperonyl Butoxide, Technical and other ingredients. The other contains Clarified Hydrophobic Extract of Neem oil and other ingredients. The claim to kill these and other types of insects, mites and fungi. I looked for BT but couldnt find it. Is it hard to find?

[feldon30]

I've never had a hard time finding it. It's sold as Dipel Dust, Dipel, BT Worm Killer, etc.

Just be aware that both Neem and Pyrethrin are plant-based oils, and should not be sprayed onto leaves when they are being hit by direct sunlight or the oil will burn the leaves. Neem and/or Pyrethrin must be sprayed frequently. In other news, they're quite effective at killing mosquitoes. Pyrethrin is what is sprayed every 5 minutes from 1 hour before dusk to 1 hour after by those automatic misting systems people spend a fortune getting installed.

BT is a preventative and protects your plants for up to 1 week as long as it does not rain. Once the worm/caterpillar (cat) takes a bite, it will stop eating.

[TZ-OH6]

Google [beet armyworm] and see if that is what you have. They are nasty, hundreds hatch out and move out onto the plant. I hope that no other plants touch that one.

[hasshoes]

At Lowes or whatever it might just be called Caterpillar Killer or something like that- I've seen it with different names. . . "BT" is just an abbreviation of the chemical that kills them.

I'd check out Home Depot. . . lol, they always seem to have tons of chemicals there.

[dice]

Some examples of BT products:

http://www.groworganic.com/item_PBI2...l_DF_1_Lb.html
http://www.groworganic.com/item_PMB1...Dust_1_Lb.html
http://www.groworganic.com/item_PBI2...k_8_Oz_Bo.html

[Bubbagun]

I had to go to a mom & pops hardware store here in Bakersfield ca, the 2 big hardware store here doesn't carry BT, It some brand I don't know much about called Safer, it's a 8 FL,OZ bottle called Caterpillar Killer, reads it has 12.74% and other ingredients 87.26%, I never tried it before, just sprayed yesterday, well see.

[RayR]

Safer Caterpillar Killer is a BT (bacillus thuringiensis) product, that's exactly what you need to rid yourself of those ugly devils. BT works like a charm and no toxic chemicals.

[Wi-sunflower]

If you also have what looks like a LARGE "spider web" on a limb, it could be "tent caterpillar" or tent worm. Check out the images at this link http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...og&sa=N&tab=wi

The solution should be the same as suggested above no matter what it is. but you should probably spray that webby looking thing too.

Carol

[gardenpaws_VA]

I think I agree that those things on a defenseless tomato plant are a bit too much. I would be inclined to handpick them into soapy water as suggested, and then look for a spray, so as not to lose all the future fruit.

However, I've learned to be a bit more casual about the tent caterpillars which hit the wild cherries here every year. Turns out that tent caterpillars are a major food source for bluebirds, and it may be no coincidence that the property where my office is has both.

[Gobig_or_Gohome_toms]

I thought Army Caterpillar as well had them a few years ago I went toxic on them but BT is what I would use now knowing more about growning tomatoes.

Craig

[tjg911]

bt will kill any cat regardless of what it is. there is no reason to use toxic chemicals on your tomato or other plants when dealing with cats. beware, butterfly cats will die as well as thw, tent cats, cabbage looper etc. i let milkweed grow in my garden so i have to be careful when i spray bt. i use it more on cabbage and broccoli cuz those cats are hard to find than on tomatoes which i can usually hand pick thw tho they can be hard to find.

tom

[feldon30]

My first experience with leafroller/cutter caterpillars were actually my Dragon Tongue beans. If I end up gardening somewhere not quite so hot as Houston, I'd absolutely have a butterfly garden and watch where I spray BT!