Something is eating my new buds!

[flashback]

I have had somthing eating the new buds and some leaves. What ever it is chews the complete leaf off at the stem. This morning 15 min. after checking my plants I looked at them again and the ? had eaten a 2" section of new grow off at the stem and the complete section of buds.

Anyone know what this may be?

[matereater]

the dreaded tomato hornworm ? They can sometimes be hard to spot because of their color they blend in very well. Is there any frass (bug poop) on the ground near the eaten leaves ?

[bcday]

I think it's probably a hornworm too.

Hornworms are fat green caterpillars that blend in very well with the tomato stems and foliage. You need to look closely to spot them. Here are some pics of what to look for:

http://www.garden.org/pestlibrary/bu...q=show&id=1640
http://cals.arizona.edu/maricopa/gar...ornworm-sm.jpg
http://vegipm.tamu.edu/chewing4/tomatohornworm.html
http://hflp.sdstate.edu/images/hornworm.jpg

[flashback]

Is there anything you can do other than finding them and killing them?

[matereater]

I'm sure there are chemical sprays or powders that will work but I prefer not to use those on something I'm eventually goin to eat. It's usually easier to just pick them off and dispose of however you're most comfortable.

[gssgarden]

8 in the last three days have met a unfortunate end. One in the main garden and 7 on my Dwarves, New big Dwarves and Bush Champions. Two went to town on my Grumpy F4. They work fast. Spraying tonight after it cools. I don't like to spray but it's getting bad out there.

Greg

[flashback]

After dealing with a few small worms (1/4") I started atacking affids. I sprayed with a soap and water sollution that seemed to work for a day or two. Then they would come back with brothers ,sisters, aunts and uncles. At this point I think I sprayed to much and caused a good amount of leaf damage on a few plants.

Now I have just been looking for worms and watering. NO SPRAYING!

During that time of backing off I saw a nice 3" caterpillar on the screen of my porch. I told my wife that it would be a big month from the size. I forgot to go and check the pictures in this thread to see if it might be a horn worm. IT WAS and is someware in my yard eating!

NO MORE FREE PASSES!