HELP! I need help and quick! These nasty horn worms are eating every thing. I have been trying to pick them off by hand. But somehow I always seem to miss a few. They are devouring my tomato plants. I am trying to grow organic but these critters don't play fair. Bonnie

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), June 21, 2000

Answers

If you are growing organic once the horn worms get big enough to pick it's too late to do anything but pick, The trick is to controal them before they get that big. DO what I do Pay your kids (or someone eleses kids) a penny for each worm they pick off, make it a game then use them for bait and take the kids fishing Grant

-- Grant Eversoll (thegrange@earthlink.net), June 21, 2000.

Bonnie, just DO NOT pick any that have white eggs on them. I can't think of the name right now, but they are the eggs of a parasite of hornworms. I believe you can buy that parasite, but I don't know when it is effective, probably too late now to wait for an order to come. Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_geribl@hotmail.com), June 21, 2000.

The white eggs are laid by the parasitic Trichogamma wasp which will eventually kill the hornworm. There are places to buy them, but don't know of any myself. If you don't like picking them off, I've found a quick snip of the kitchen shears can be faster and as effective. Good luck!

-- Gary (Thormole@AOL.com), June 21, 2000.

I shared this information on another forum and was more or less laughed at. Later, I found an article written by more recognized authorities, and the idea was accepted. So, pick every bug, worm you can find. Put them in a blender mixed with water and pulverize. Filter the juice and put in your sprayer, add water and a drop or two of dishwater detergent. Spray all your plants. Each bug or worm has its own virus, once sprayed even with the same virus, they cannot cope. believe me, it works. Repeat before needed.

-- JerryR(La.) (jwr98@hotmail.com), June 21, 2000.

They are so yucky !!!!! I had a whole garden infested with these critters once..I learned to start at the bottom of the plant and look on the underside of each leaf as well as the stems..hot, nasty work. The Amish in Lancaster County mix up a combinaton of cayenne pepper and tobacco with water and spray the plants..seems to work..I have not seen those horn worms since I lived in Massachusetts..just got lucky I guess....good luck and God bless.

-- lesley chasko (martchas@gateway.net), June 21, 2000.

Hey guys this sounds like good advice. But I have a few questions ! (1) How long will it take for those little white eggs to hatch and kill the worm.Can I just move it to another feild until it hatches.Cause it may be infested but it is hungry. (2)about the tobacco and pepper; aren't viruses in tobacco that is bad for tomatoes? (3) the blender thing make sence but I really like my blender and I could never feel the same about it once I saw that green stuff in there. Maybe I can find one at a yard sale or something. And one more thing do these worms sting you? Cause they look like they could or is that pointy thing a fake? Thanks again Bonnie

-- Bonnie (josabo1@juno.com), June 22, 2000.

The answer is BT (Bacillus Thurengensis) and I believe the variety is San Diego, but I could be wrong on the latter. Anyway, this is an organic control that will affect ONLY caterpillars, and will not harm beneficial insects. A slight caution: do not spray it on dill (Black swallow-tail, or milkweed - Monarch) since these are the "good guys". But BT will turn those uglies dead in 1 day, without harming the others. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), June 22, 2000.

I have never liked them either they always try to bite me[ I know they dont realy bite but they sure put on a great mean front]Organic gardening had a artical in the back on them this month and they make the prettyest large nectar sipping moths.

-- kathy h (saddlebronc@msn.com), June 23, 2000.

I'll typically use BT for caterpillar/worm problems but if any hornworms manage to survive that I pick them off by hand and give the hens a treat. Man, they way they'll squabble over those worms!

.........Alan.

The Prudent Food Storage FAQ, v3.5

http://www.ProvidenceCo-op.com

-- A.T. Hagan (athagan@netscape.net), June 27, 2000.

I use a mixture of anything very hot & spicy.I put a blended mixture of mouthwash, hot mustard, tobasco sauce, dish soap & garlic liquid with water in a 2 gallon sprayer & spray it all over my pumkins, tomatoes & squash, this will stop MOST if not all bugs & it will not burn the leaves. I got this recipe from Jerry Baker the gardener. Pass this along to everyone else you know that may have any bug problems. PS. WEAR SAFTEY GLASSES or it may get in your eyes if it is windy.

-- (chris.zecchinelli@worldnet.att.net), May 04, 2002.