Total absence of hornworms this year...why?

**nctomatoman** · August 7, 2009

Very odd - the last two years I was under constant attack from tomato hornworms. This year - absolutely none (but yes on tomato fruitworms). Anyone want to hazard a theory as to why the hornworms were no shows? (not that I am complaining...)

Barbee · August 7, 2009

Same here Craig but I hated to post about it for fear of taunting them LoL
Our butterfly population in general is way down. Same for the hummers. Not sure what's up with that.

Blueaussi · August 7, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barbee

Same here Craig but I hated to post about it for fear of taunting them LoL
Our butterfly population in general is way down. Same for the hummers. Not sure what's up with that.

Yes, this. Only two hummingbirds this summer, no sign of black swallowtail caterpillars on the fennel, and only two spicebush caterpillars on the spicebush. I do have a bumper crop of Japanese beetles, though.

**mdvpc** · August 7, 2009

You folks come to see me, and I will give you a few to take home!

ContainerTed · August 7, 2009

It would seem the east coast hoard is residing with me. 21 so far and that includes two this morning. What I've noticed is that they seem to find a small area of foliage that I miss with my spray and when they eat their way out of that, or I spray again, or I find the danged bleeps, then they get health problems. Only two of the 21 were found with tummy aches.

And, they're attacking my peppers. They seem to have acquired a taste for jalapeno's and hab's, but left the sweet peppers alone.

Ted

**nctomatoman** · August 7, 2009

And we are loaded with all sorts of butterflies, hummers...and yes, big Japanese Beetle crop. Go figure.....

Barbee · August 7, 2009

No Japanese Beetles here either.
Normally they have turned the roses into sticks by now.
I figured that was due to the bumper crop of moles I had this spring.
Hmm

sprtsguy76 · August 7, 2009

Its been like this for me for the last two years. Almost no hornworms. I dont know if the yellow jacket population has something to do with it because they love to much on baby hornworms as I have witnessed in the past. What I do have a ton of now is Katydids and they have the same diet as the hornworms do. But they seem to be not nearly as destructive as hornworms.

Damon

tjg911 · August 8, 2009

i'd say the rain and cold (back in june, july has warmed up). perhaps it was so cold in june that the moths died off or the rain prevented them from laying eggs or washed them off the plants. not sure but i have not seen 1 yet either.

tom

stormymater · August 8, 2009

we have had some - well-controlled for the most part with worm whipper. Some fruitworm action - will redust this weekend. No leaf footed stinkbugs after an initial flush that I treated with permethrin spray - HaHA! Plenty of Black swallowtail caterpillars on the Italian parsley - let them go at it (plan to plant bronze fennel for them behind our property next year) - I can't view them as pests _ I have enough parsley to share & it recovered well. Now copperheads & mosquitos have been a very active different story in these parts this summer (we're up to 4 copperheads - 3 of which were well over 2 feet long this summer so far) ... I dread to see what a tropical storm will cause to come creeping out of the woods on 3 sides of us....

gssgarden · August 8, 2009

Funny you sad that. I've had ONE hornworm this year. And it was small!!
Plenty of leaf footed bugs
Very little disease
No aphids or white flies

Last year I had alot of hornworm. I think upwards of 30 of them total. We had a cooler spring with a little rain that helped things get off to a great start.

I found Swallowtail caterpillars a week back on the parsley. Going to let them go so the kids can put them it their butterfly cage and watch them grow.

Greg

matereater · August 8, 2009

Alot of bugs go through up and down cycles as do many other things, may have something to do with it ? In the southeast Michigan area where I'm at we're two weeks behind in our GDD (growing degree days?) and that may also play a part.

veggie babe · August 10, 2009

all of the hornworms came south this year

i have had tons in Texas. I found the first ones early June and the they are back this week. I have never seen so many, but our weather was dry and hot so I guess that like it here.
take them back,

neva

ContainerTed · August 10, 2009

Found #22 and #23 yesterday while spraying. 22 was a big boy and ended up in the road. This is #23 which ended up down in the woods where the eggs could hatch.

Ted

Ruth_10 · August 10, 2009

The hornworms came early and they came often here. Japanese Beetles are doing their thing as well.

August 7, 2009	#1
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	Total absence of hornworms this year...why? Very odd - the last two years I was under constant attack from tomato hornworms. This year - absolutely none (but yes on tomato fruitworms). Anyone want to hazard a theory as to why the hornworms were no shows? (not that I am complaining...) __________________ Craig

August 7, 2009	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	You folks come to see me, and I will give you a few to take home! __________________ Michael

August 7, 2009	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	It would seem the east coast hoard is residing with me. 21 so far and that includes two this morning. What I've noticed is that they seem to find a small area of foliage that I miss with my spray and when they eat their way out of that, or I spray again, or I find the danged bleeps, then they get health problems. Only two of the 21 were found with tummy aches. And, they're attacking my peppers. They seem to have acquired a taste for jalapeno's and hab's, but left the sweet peppers alone. Ted __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

August 7, 2009	#6
nctomatoman Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Hendersonville, NC zone 7 Posts: 10,385	And we are loaded with all sorts of butterflies, hummers...and yes, big Japanese Beetle crop. Go figure..... __________________ Craig

August 7, 2009	#7
Barbee Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,818	No Japanese Beetles here either. Normally they have turned the roses into sticks by now. I figured that was due to the bumper crop of moles I had this spring. Hmm __________________ *Barbee*

August 7, 2009	#8
sprtsguy76 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: Santa Clara CA Posts: 1,125	Its been like this for me for the last two years. Almost no hornworms. I dont know if the yellow jacket population has something to do with it because they love to much on baby hornworms as I have witnessed in the past. What I do have a ton of now is Katydids and they have the same diet as the hornworms do. But they seem to be not nearly as destructive as hornworms. Damon

August 8, 2009	#9
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i'd say the rain and cold (back in june, july has warmed up). perhaps it was so cold in june that the moths died off or the rain prevented them from laying eggs or washed them off the plants. not sure but i have not seen 1 yet either. tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

August 8, 2009	#10
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	we have had some - well-controlled for the most part with worm whipper. Some fruitworm action - will redust this weekend. No leaf footed stinkbugs after an initial flush that I treated with permethrin spray - HaHA! Plenty of Black swallowtail caterpillars on the Italian parsley - let them go at it (plan to plant bronze fennel for them behind our property next year) - I can't view them as pests _ I have enough parsley to share & it recovered well. Now copperheads & mosquitos have been a very active different story in these parts this summer (we're up to 4 copperheads - 3 of which were well over 2 feet long this summer so far) ... I dread to see what a tropical storm will cause to come creeping out of the woods on 3 sides of us....

August 8, 2009	#11
gssgarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: N.C. Posts: 1,827	Funny you sad that. I've had ONE hornworm this year. And it was small!! Plenty of leaf footed bugs Very little disease No aphids or white flies Last year I had alot of hornworm. I think upwards of 30 of them total. We had a cooler spring with a little rain that helped things get off to a great start. I found Swallowtail caterpillars a week back on the parsley. Going to let them go so the kids can put them it their butterfly cage and watch them grow. Greg

August 8, 2009	#12
matereater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: S.E. Michigan (Livonia) Posts: 1,264	Alot of bugs go through up and down cycles as do many other things, may have something to do with it ? In the southeast Michigan area where I'm at we're two weeks behind in our GDD (growing degree days?) and that may also play a part. __________________ Steve Cleverly disguised as a responsible adult

August 10, 2009	#13
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	all of the hornworms came south this year i have had tons in Texas. I found the first ones early June and the they are back this week. I have never seen so many, but our weather was dry and hot so I guess that like it here. take them back, neva

August 10, 2009	#15
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	The hornworms came early and they came often here. Japanese Beetles are doing their thing as well. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.