horn worms

[peppero]

Just as I was thinking that I was going to avoid these hungry rascals, I came to realize that it was just wishful thinking. All of a sudden it seems that they were everywhere doing their dastardly deed. I wish that I had some chickens to enjoy them. Oh well.

Jon

[Worth1]

They do seem to just show up over night.

[sfulwood]

i'm in selmer too peppero and they have been the worst in years this year

[Salsacharley]

I replaced some soil this year and in the process I dug up 5 pupae before I even planted! Then while pruning I found a stinking big moth sitting on a stem. I had a pair of channel locks in my hand (not to prune with) and did the moth in but it took a couple of blows. I sprayed with BT right after that.

[ContainerTed]

We were picking Blue Lake beans on Saturday morning. I noticed one of my dwarf plants had the typical little black balls of poop on the ground underneath. I immediately began a search and destroy mission. When I was done, I had captured 6 of those little green striped monsters and had lost 8 pieces of fruit. Like said above, it was like they showed up almost overnight. I'm usually very diligent and watchful for the signs of the beasties. But they sure did sneak past me this time.

Anyhow, I collected them up and decided to try something new with getting rid of them. I drove out to the lake to a dock where there were lots of Bluegills in the shallows around the walkways. I took out the first one which was about 2 inches long and plunked it into the water. A few bigger fish nipped at it a few times, but then a small bass came up and gobbled it down. Within a couple of minutes, the carcass of the hornworm came floating back up. Even the fish didn't like them.

Then I tried throwing a few crunched up crackers into the water and the bluegills went wild. I must of had 3 or 4 dozen of all sizes darting around. Then I threw in one of the 3 inch long hornworms and all the bluegills left. there was still some pieces of the crackers drifting down, but the bluegills were not to be seen. I guess there ain't nothing that likes a hornworm.

[WilburMartin]

I saw a very small one on a Brandywine stem earlier today - I am probably going to start dreaming about the dastardly beasts now

[Salsacharley]

If you see one, know that many more are present.

Originally Posted by WilburMartin

I saw a very small one on a Brandywine stem earlier today - I am probably going to start dreaming about the dastardly beasts now

[gorbelly]

It's a shame they're such destructive garden pests. The moths are cool, the caterpillars are just impressive looking and kind of beautiful in an alien way, and the eggs, as I discovered this year, are downright pretty, like tiny globes of milky aquamarine...

...which I, of course, promptly crushed. No signs of hornworms or their damage yet.

The birds have been really great at clearing out any larger pests this year, though, so it's possible that any that I missed were eaten.

[ContainerTed]

Tomato gardeners don't dream about hornworms. We have "NIGHTMARES" about them.

[WilburMartin]

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

Tomato gardeners don't dream about hornworms. We have "NIGHTMARES" about them.

true

[imp]

Shame the fish do not like to eat them, they wiggle so.

[Worth1]

They like catalpa worms.

Worth

[DjonesNC]

I found three plants today that were literally mowed down overnight. Only found one suspect was apprehended during the sweep and was found lurking on yet another plant. A trial and verdict were reached culminating in the swift execution of the tomato terrorist.

[Gardeneer]

As bad as they are, the good thing is that there are limited number of them and cannot multiply right away. Nor they can come from far away.

[ginger2778]

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

If you see one, know that many more are present.

^ ^
This.