Tilling the soil after harvest will destroy most pupae that may have overwintered.We are fascinated by sphinx moths but want to destroy every tomato worm we can find.

Hummingbird moths and tomato hornworms are the beauty and the beast of the insect world and can create quite a dilemma for gardeners. Most prefer to feed in the evening but some feed in the day. They do not land on the flowers as their tongues can be up to 4 inches allowing them to drink nectar while they hover over the flowers. They are called sphinx moths, hawk moths, or hummingbird moths. Not all feed on tomato plants but some of these fascinating creatures are the product of the same caterpillar you found wreaking havoc on your tomatoes. Remember the small creature you saw hovering over your flowerbed that looked like a tiny hummingbird? There are many types of hummingbird moths.

However, before you run for your scissors and head out to your garden wait…there is something else you should know.

Sometimes you notice their calling card first…a pile of green or dark brown droppings on the leaves or ground known as insect frass.Ĭontrol: The easiest way to control hornworms is to use garden scissors, clip off the infested stems and dispose of the pests. Identification: They are voracious eaters and blend in with the foliage so well you don’t know they are there until you see bare stems. Tomato hornworms and their equally hungry cousins the tobacco hornworm can do lots of damage in a depressingly short amount of time. Tomato hornworms feed most often on tomatoes but will also eat eggplant, pepper, and potato plants as they are in the same family. Looking for the culprit you see an enormous alien-looking green caterpillar with white stripes and red dots down its back. After much anticipation, tomato season is finally here but something has been devouring the leaves on your tomato plant and even taken bites out of the green tomatoes.

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