Controlling Tomato Hornworms
Tomato hornworms are one of the more creepy and frustrating pests in the vegetable garden. They can get huge (up to 5 inches long and nearly an inch thick), and with that little horn-like thing at one end, they're scary looking. That is if you can find them. Their green color and smooth skin help them blend into foliage. And can they ever eat. One day your tomatoes look great, the next there's barely a leaf left, and the fruit is half eaten.
Controlling tomato hornworms starts with persistence. Look for them hanging from the undersides of leaves; however you'll probably see their black pellet-like droppings on the foliage first. Handpick and stomp (or drop into a jar of soapy water) the ones you find, but it will be hard to get them all. For better control, spray plants with Bayer Advanced™ PowerForce® Multi-Insect Killer Ready-To-Spray as soon as you see the first hornworm. You can spray right up to the day of harvest.
Products Mentioned In This Article
Bayer Advanced
