horn worms

peppero · July 4, 2016

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 · July 4, 2016

They do seem to just show up over night.

sfulwood · July 4, 2016

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

Salsacharley · July 4, 2016

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 · July 4, 2016

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 · July 4, 2016

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 · July 4, 2016

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

Quote:

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 · July 4, 2016

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 · July 4, 2016

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

WilburMartin · July 4, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by ContainerTed

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

true

imp · July 4, 2016

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

Worth1 · July 4, 2016

They like catalpa worms.

Worth

DjonesNC · July 5, 2016

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 · July 5, 2016

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 · July 5, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salsacharley

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

^ ^
This.

July 4, 2016	#1
peppero Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: selmer, tn Posts: 2,944	horn worms 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

July 4, 2016	#3
sfulwood Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: eastview, tn Posts: 28	Horn worms i'm in selmer too peppero and they have been the worst in years this year

July 4, 2016	#5
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	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. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch Last edited by ContainerTed; July 4, 2016 at 03:31 PM.

July 4, 2016	#6
WilburMartin Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Mississippi Posts: 169	I saw a very small one on a Brandywine stem earlier today - I am probably going to start dreaming about the dastardly beasts now __________________ "Ain't nothin' in the world that I like better than bacon and lettuce, and home-grown tomatoes." - Guy Clark (RIP), "Home-Grown Tomatoes"

July 4, 2016	#9
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	Tomato gardeners don't dream about hornworms. We have "NIGHTMARES" about them. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

July 4, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	They do seem to just show up over night.

July 4, 2016	#4
Salsacharley Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Mexico Posts: 2,052	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.

July 4, 2016	#8
gorbelly Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Posts: 1,069	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.

July 4, 2016	#11
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Shame the fish do not like to eat them, they wiggle so.

July 4, 2016	#12
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	They like catalpa worms. Worth

July 5, 2016	#13
DjonesNC Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2016 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 31	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.

July 5, 2016	#14
Gardeneer Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: NC - zone 8a - heat zone 7 Posts: 4,919	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.