Tomato Hornworm question

babice · August 13, 2012

Well, I feel like an official member of the club now. I saw my first tomato hornworm yesterday. I saw specks of doo doo and looked under the leaf above. At first all I saw was this white thing with a horn sticking out. As a hunch, though, I took off the whole leaf and looked at it --- and there was also a green hornworm (no white stuff on it). So, of course I squished the live green one.

My question - they say to leave the white ones alone because they're probably encased in pupae of parasitic wasps that will help control the hornworms. So when you find one with the white on it within 1-2 inches from a live green one, should you also leave the live green one alone for the wasps to eventually get?

kath · August 13, 2012

Jmo but I'd squish the one that was without pupae.

tjg911 · August 14, 2012

i agree. the one w/o egg sacs was missed by the wasp and you can't know if any wasp will find it. if no egg sacs on it i step on them immediately.

tom

August 13, 2012	#1
babice Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Alabama Posts: 643	Tomato Hornworm question Well, I feel like an official member of the club now. I saw my first tomato hornworm yesterday. I saw specks of doo doo and looked under the leaf above. At first all I saw was this white thing with a horn sticking out. As a hunch, though, I took off the whole leaf and looked at it --- and there was also a green hornworm (no white stuff on it). So, of course I squished the live green one. My question - they say to leave the white ones alone because they're probably encased in pupae of parasitic wasps that will help control the hornworms. So when you find one with the white on it within 1-2 inches from a live green one, should you also leave the live green one alone for the wasps to eventually get?

August 14, 2012	#3
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i agree. the one w/o egg sacs was missed by the wasp and you can't know if any wasp will find it. if no egg sacs on it i step on them immediately. 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 13, 2012	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Jmo but I'd squish the one that was without pupae.