HORNWORM! Wow. - Page 2

Tracydr · September 9, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by Worth1

In the last Michael Crichton book (Miro) there was a group of people that got shrunk down to 1/2 inch.
One of them got eggs inserted into him by a parasitic wasp.
The eggs started hatching and popping out on his arm.

Worth

Loved that book and yes, the part about the parasitic wasp was very cool!

Tracydr · September 9, 2014

I read a blog one time about preparing and eating hornworms. Strange but the author actually found they tasted good if you could get past the idea and the fluorescent green blood.
http://www.greatlakespermaculture.org/?p=260

maf · September 13, 2014

I have always imagined they would taste like a cross between tomatoes and shrimp. We don't get them here in the UK so I have never had the opportunity to find out.

zero244 · September 13, 2014

I don't know if I have any horn worms, I have looked for them and haven't seen one yet. I am growing in pots and new soil so I may have to look out for them next year. Plus many of my plants are very dense and it is hard to see anything even some of the tomatoes.
I will keep a look out for the eggs, I didn't realize the eggs were that big and numerous.
As voracious as they are it would seem if you had some you would see the damage to the plant eventually.

saltmarsh · September 13, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by zero244

I don't know if I have any horn worms, I have looked for them and haven't seen one yet. I am growing in pots and new soil so I may have to look out for them next year. Plus many of my plants are very dense and it is hard to see anything even some of the tomatoes.
I will keep a look out for the eggs, I didn't realize the eggs were that big and numerous.
As voracious as they are it would seem if you had some you would see the damage to the plant eventually.

The way I find them is to look for their fras. Leaves in fras out. After they hatch out, they crawl to the edge of the leaf the egg is on and start eating (normally the outer edge) and the fras starts dropping on the leaves directly below their location. Locate the minute specks of fras and look for a mishapen leaf directly above. You'll normally see the horn before you see the worm. Stop them at this stage and there won't be any damage to your plants. Remember to flick the fras from the leaf so you won't waste time looking for a worm you've already found. It does take a lot more for a recipe at this stage however.

loudog · September 14, 2014

In your pics it looks like the horn is red, tobacco hornworms horns are red and tomato hornworms horns are black, found 5 yesterday on my litchi fruit plants.

Tracydr · September 14, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by maf

I have always imagined they would taste like a cross between tomatoes and shrimp. We don't get them here in the UK so I have never had the opportunity to find out.

I'm sure, if you ask for them at least one T-Ville member would be happy to ship you a box or two!

AlittleSalt · September 15, 2014

Quote:

Originally Posted by saltmarsh

The way I find them is to look for their fras. Leaves in fras out. After they hatch out, they crawl to the edge of the leaf the egg is on and start eating (normally the outer edge) and the fras starts dropping on the leaves directly below their location. Locate the minute specks of fras and look for a mishapen leaf directly above. You'll normally see the horn before you see the worm. Stop them at this stage and their won't be any damage to your plants. Remember to flick the fras from the leaf so you won't waste time looking for a worm you've already found. It does take a lot more for a recipe at this stage however.

I have something new to look for tomorrow. Thanks for the info.

nmcbride · February 4, 2015

What insect is it that is the "Beneficial" insect that has those cocoons/kills off the hornworms?

Worth1 · February 4, 2015

Quote:

Originally Posted by nmcbride

What insect is it that is the "Beneficial" insect that has those cocoons/kills off the hornworms?

A type of wasp.
Worth

RickyD · February 4, 2015

Like Picture in post #8, if you get one like this one leave it so the wasp will hatch.

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/g...n_hornworm.htm

kurt · February 4, 2015

These guys have some hornworm parasites for purchase.

http://www.arbico-organics.com/categ...rpillars-moths

Rairdog · February 4, 2015

Here is one of my Braconidae

And the enemy. I can usually pick them off and control them. They seem to only last a few weeks here.

zero244 · February 5, 2015

The horn worms are creepy as heck. I have only seen a few on my plants over the years. Maybe because I grow in pots only. One of the worms ravaged a 2 ft. tomato before I realized a problem, the tomato plant did not recover. The horn worm was about 3 inches long and about as big around as my index finger. There was also some eggs which I removed after giving the horn worm a dip in the pool.

luigiwu · February 5, 2015

How often do you guys apply BT and when?
Do you wait until the first hornworm appears or?

February 4, 2015	#27
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,503	These guys have some hornworm parasites for purchase. http://www.arbico-organics.com/categ...rpillars-moths __________________ KURT

February 5, 2015	#30
luigiwu Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: ny Posts: 1,219	How often do you guys apply BT and when? Do you wait until the first hornworm appears or? __________________ Subirrigated Container gardening (RGGS) in NY, Zone 7!

September 9, 2014	#17
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I read a blog one time about preparing and eating hornworms. Strange but the author actually found they tasted good if you could get past the idea and the fluorescent green blood. http://www.greatlakespermaculture.org/?p=260

September 13, 2014	#18
maf Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Posts: 512	I have always imagined they would taste like a cross between tomatoes and shrimp. We don't get them here in the UK so I have never had the opportunity to find out.

September 13, 2014	#19
zero244 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Oregon Posts: 47	I don't know if I have any horn worms, I have looked for them and haven't seen one yet. I am growing in pots and new soil so I may have to look out for them next year. Plus many of my plants are very dense and it is hard to see anything even some of the tomatoes. I will keep a look out for the eggs, I didn't realize the eggs were that big and numerous. As voracious as they are it would seem if you had some you would see the damage to the plant eventually.

September 14, 2014	#21
loudog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: west central ohio Posts: 172	In your pics it looks like the horn is red, tobacco hornworms horns are red and tomato hornworms horns are black, found 5 yesterday on my litchi fruit plants.

February 4, 2015	#24
nmcbride Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Canada Posts: 7	What insect is it that is the "Beneficial" insect that has those cocoons/kills off the hornworms?

February 4, 2015	#26
RickyD Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: MS Posts: 39	Like Picture in post #8, if you get one like this one leave it so the wasp will hatch. http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/g...n_hornworm.htm

February 4, 2015	#28
Rairdog Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2014 Location: Noblesville, IN Posts: 112	Here is one of my Braconidae And the enemy. I can usually pick them off and control them. They seem to only last a few weeks here.