05/17/2026
Spotted: tomato hornworms! 🐛🍅
These masters of camouflage can strip a tomato plant naked overnight! If you're looking closely at the picture:
• Left photo: Look right in the center, clinging horizontally to the main stem near those yellow blossoms.
• Right photo: Check out the vertical main stem on the right side! He’s blending right in with the stalks.
When it comes to these sneaky garden giants, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension recommends a few key steps to protect your backyard harvest:
🔎How to Scout: Don't just look for the worms; for their clues! Keep an eye out for missing chunks of leaves at the top of your plants, wilted stems, or large, dark green/black droppings (frass) on the lower leaves and ground.
🖐️Handpicking: For most home gardens, the easiest and most effective method is simply plucking them off. Drop them into a bucket of soapy water, or feed them to your chickens if you have them!
🐝Look for Beneficial Allies: If you find a hornworm covered in tiny, white, rice-like cocoons, leave it alone! Those are the pupae of parasitic Braconid wasps. The hornworm is already doomed, and letting those helpful wasps hatch means free, organic pest control for the rest of your garden.
🌱Organic Treatment: If you have a major outbreak, look for Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), an organic spray. It targets caterpillars specifically without harming bees or other beneficial pollinators. It works best when the hornworms are still small!
🦋A Note on the Adults
The adult moths (Sphinx or Hawk moths) are large, fast-flying nocturnal pollinators often mistaken for hummingbirds. While they are beautiful and beneficial for flowers, if you see them hovering around at dusk, it's a sure sign that eggs are being laid and it's time to start scouting!
