OT- Tomato plants being eaten

Eggingaround

Not sure what this creature is, but the damn things are eating the leaves off my plants. Any ideas on how to get rid of them? @Chubbs

Legume

Tomato worm.  Harmless to you, but they eat the crap out of tomatoes.  Pull them off, toss in a bucket or coffee can with some rock salt.

They leave a trail of small black poop, so you can almost track them.  If you have kids, you can pay them by the worm to hunt them.  Worked for me as a kid and as a parent.

HoustonEgger

That's a tomato hornworm. (More info here)

Just handpick hornworms from infested plants (this is the most effective means of managing them). Throw them into soapy water to kill them.

Photo Egg

Eggingaround

Thanks for the info. Crazy how much damage they did. I've found 4 so far on one plant. I have 4 others to check. 

Eggingaround

@Photo Egg that would make things fun for sure.

kl8ton

We had over 50 tomato plants last year.  I saw my fair share of these.  With that many plants, there was some for the worms and some for us.  :-)

Its funny how i never knew they existed and then one day i receive an education.  Where do they come from?  How far did they travel to find my plants?  Crazy.

Photo Egg

Eggingaround said:

@Photo Egg that would make things fun for sure.

Like a scene out of the old "B" movie Tremors...They do splatter.
It will even take out wasps. It was money well spent.lol

buzd504

Photo Egg said:

Eggingaround said:

@Photo Egg that would make things fun for sure.

Like a scene out of the old "B" movie Tremors...They do splatter.
It will even take out wasps. It was money well spent.lol

You should really get the camo version so the bugs don't see you coming. 

Legume

Has the bug a salt worked with tomato worms?  They have really thick skin, my old gen one bug a salt would definitely just bounce off.  I remember them being difficult to cut with a pocket knife when I was a kid.

Photo Egg

buzd504 said:

Photo Egg said:

Eggingaround said:

@Photo Egg that would make things fun for sure.

Like a scene out of the old "B" movie Tremors...They do splatter.
It will even take out wasps. It was money well spent.lol

You should really get the camo version so the bugs don't see you coming. 

I do have the Camo version. The above were just google images. Very fun toy to take up time betweens beers when cooking on the Egg.

MO_Eggin

You can use a blacklight flashlight to find the hornworms (do it around dusk), they will glow.  The hornworms are also fond of pepper plants, and are voracious eaters in general.

Chubbs

Hand picking is unfortunately best way. You can buy some last bugs and release them in garden. Or you can set a bird feeder near the garden and they will find the worms and eat them but they could also eat your tomatoes. Tough predicament and I have them too

chrisc133

@Chubbs will seven dust get ride of thse?

Photo Egg

Legume said:

Has the bug a salt worked with tomato worms?  They have really thick skin, my old gen one bug a salt would definitely just bounce off.  I remember them being difficult to cut with a pocket knife when I was a kid.

I have no experience with the first gen model but the 2nd model that I have is fun. Yes, splattered the above caterpillars with no problem.

gmac

chrisc133 said:

@Chubbs will seven dust get ride of thse?

Assuming you mean Sevin (carbaryl) it should but really with a few plants I would just hand pick but they blend in like crazy and you won't see the little ones. 

Eggingaround

Thanks for all of they helps guys. The Bug-A-Salt with a black light attachment and a couple drinks would be a lot of laughs. 

Firemanyz

Check out the link below. This is what I have used in my garden for a few years and it's enviromently friendly. 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0035HA0AK/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1464293487&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=pyrethrin&dpPl=1&dpID=41edsvMgFBL&ref=plSrch