Q&A - Where do tomato hornworms come from?
Question:
Can you please explain to “us gardeners” about these awful tomato hornworms? How and when they come to be on our tomato plants? Do hornworms come out of the soil or are they from eggs laid by large moths?
Answer:
Tomato Hornworms are the caterpillar of the large Sphynx moth (sometimes called hummingbird moth). The moth lays an egg and once hatched the hornworm caterpillar eats until it grows to approximately four inches in length. The caterpillar the goes into the soil where it pupates. The hornworms are very well camouflaged on tomato plants. You can see where they have eaten because of the leafless stems and they can often be found by looking for their excrement. They are easily controlled by picking them off, or by using BT (Bacillus thuringiensis). Tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms both eat tomato leaves. The tomato hornworm has light colored V markings on the side while the tobacco hornworm has light colored slashes on the side.
Related Resources:
Hornworms and “Hummingbird” Moths
Tomato Hornworms in Home Gardens
Can you please explain to “us gardeners” about these awful tomato hornworms? How and when they come to be on our tomato plants? Do hornworms come out of the soil or are they from eggs laid by large moths?
Answer:
Tomato Hornworms are the caterpillar of the large Sphynx moth (sometimes called hummingbird moth). The moth lays an egg and once hatched the hornworm caterpillar eats until it grows to approximately four inches in length. The caterpillar the goes into the soil where it pupates. The hornworms are very well camouflaged on tomato plants. You can see where they have eaten because of the leafless stems and they can often be found by looking for their excrement. They are easily controlled by picking them off, or by using BT (Bacillus thuringiensis). Tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms both eat tomato leaves. The tomato hornworm has light colored V markings on the side while the tobacco hornworm has light colored slashes on the side.
Related Resources:
Hornworms and “Hummingbird” Moths
Tomato Hornworms in Home Gardens