Hello. I found a HUGH catapillar in my tomatoes today. It has cleaned some of the stems of leaves and nibbled on 10 tomatoes which I had to pull off and throw in the compost pile. :>( It is green,about 3-4 inches long and as fat as my thumb. I picked off the stem it was on and put it in a jar. (Homeschooling science project!) Does anyone know what it is?

-- melissa (bizemom@netzero.net), July 17, 2000

Answers

If it has a horn like projection on the rear of the worm, it is known as the tomato hornworm. They blend in well with foliage. The simplest method of control is handpicking them and disposing of them as you wish. One of the easiest ways to spot for them is to look for their dark green droppings on lower leaves of the plant and on the ground. If they get so out of control that handpicking is not an option, Bacillus thuringiensis (BT) will help. Also pyrethrum. These critters are disgusting and can quickly do a lot of damage to tomatoes and other plants as well. Good luck with your home schooling lesson.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), July 17, 2000.

You can feed them to chickens. They love them. Wish I could convince them to eat Japanese Beetles.

-- Kathy (DavidWH6@juno.com), July 17, 2000.

Kathy, my chickens fight over Japanese beetles. I pick them off and drop them in a can of water. When I'm through bug patrol I throw them to the chickies. They eat them faster than any other bug. Melissa, if you hornworms have white cocoons on their backs, don't destroy them, These are parasitic wasps (don't know correct name) and will hatch and do good things for you garden. The host caterpillar will die.

-- Cindy (atilrthehony_1@yahoo.comc), July 17, 2000.

It's a hornworm. Will it turn into something (butterfly or moth) or is it a worm? If a worm, I will enjoy watching the chickens fight over it!

-- Melissa (bizemom@netzero.net), July 17, 2000.

Tell some guys they are excellent fishing bit and invite them over to pick their own.

-- Ken Scharabok (scharabo@aol.com), July 17, 2000.

The guy (or gal) with the phony address (Notforprint - WHY do you do that?) has the answer. BT (Bacillus Thurengensis, and I believe var. Kuristake) is a natural control, that will harm nothing but caterpillars. The tomato hornworm, or possibly the tobacco horn worm - they are similar, will succomb in a day or so. Since no beneficial caterpillars (at least here in Maine) tend to feast on tomatoes, there should be no problem. Do not spray your milkweed, which is the favorite food of Monarchs, or Dill, which attracts the black swallowtail caterpillar. Just plant extra dill. I have heard they are indeed good bass bait, but have never tried them. Problem with picking them is that they are hard to spot, except for my color-blind son, who can spot them with ease! The BT will get them all. GL!

-- Brad (Homefixer@SacoRiver.net), July 17, 2000.

Tomato hornworms become Sphinx moths. Can have wing spans of 3-4.5", depending on the specific type. Hummingbird moths are also Sphinx moths. Fairly sure that tomato hornworms aren't hummingbird moths to be, Gerbil

-- Gerbil (ima_gerbil@hotmail.com), July 17, 2000.

Those big ugly suckers also have a sting to them, at least the first one I was introduced to did. I now wear gloves when picking them off. They sure can do a lot of damage in a hurry. Rob Clarksburg WV

-- Rob Shipe (RShipe1046@aol.com), July 17, 2000.

Aren't they impressive, though? I almost hate to kill them, they're so, I don't know...substantial? I've thrown hornworms in to my chickens and had the chickens be scared of them!

-- Shannon (Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary) (gratacres@aol.com), July 18, 2000.

If you happen to find one covered in white eggs, let it go!!! The damage that hornworm will do will not replace the benifits that those wasps on its back provides. Within a day or two, the worm will be just a sack that has been drained from the eggs. I had a hornworm problem a few years ago and since getting those wasps have no problem.

-- MarcTwain (marctwain_2000@yahoo.com), July 19, 2000.