My tomato plants have 4 of these on them. WHAT in the world are they?
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Ruth on Sep 03, 2015http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/tomato/tomato-hornworms-control.htmHelpful Reply
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Judy on Sep 03, 2015They are tomato worms that will shred your tomato plant. The white rice looking items are eggs from a wasp that will eat the worms they hatch and grow. My suggestion is to handpick the worms all.Helpful Reply
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Sarah A. Victory on Sep 04, 2015I saw my first Tomato worm in the last 5 yrs. At first I thought it was a tobacco worm as they look a lot alike. Pick them off and destroy them or you will have no greenery on your tomatoes.Helpful Reply
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Carol Claremont on Sep 04, 2015Tomato Hornworms - pick them off and put them somewhere - I have woods so I put them on a tree or something - I have killed some in the past but I think they turn into butterflies or something so I don't anymore - they will eat up your tomato plants and sometimes they are hard to see but follow the path on the leaves that are gone and you might find others.Helpful Reply
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Mychelle primeau on Sep 04, 2015If you don't want to kill the worms get the hose and heavy sprinkler on them from close. But they will probably come back so keep a close eye on them.Helpful Reply
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Catherine Smith on Sep 04, 2015Agree with everyone else. Those are tomato hornworms which will shred tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, etc. Pick them off and dispose of them, UNLESS you want to do a nature lesson with kids. Pick off one or two along with a couple of stems and leaves from your tomato plant and put them in a glass container with air holes in the lid. You can watch them go thru their life cycle and turn into a 5 Spotted Hawkmoon Moth. Search the web for more info and pictures.Helpful Reply
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AdrianaG on Sep 04, 2015No, non, no! Do NOT kill the parasitised hornworms. The larvae will kill them for you and you will increase the population of beneficial a wasps. Only kill hornworms without the wasps,Helpful Reply
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Janet Pizaro on Sep 04, 2015agree with eveyone else tomato horn worms There are sprays and or tomato dust for the control.Helpful Reply
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Jeanie Smith on Sep 04, 2015These actially kill them off. Google itHelpful Reply
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Louise on Sep 04, 2015agree with AdrianaG leave the tomato hornworm alone. they are beyond beneficial to the enviroment. parasitic wasps seek them out to lay eggs on them,and this paralyzes the worm and the worm will eventually die. the parasitic wasps are as good for the enviroment as the bees are and we all know bees are at a premium because of pesticides. once the eggs are on the worms you could pick them off your plants and put them somewhere else but they are harmless.Helpful Reply
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JoAnn on Sep 04, 2015Not tomato hornworms. A good thing. Always glad to see them because I know I won't have tomato hornworms. They are eggs for a type of wasp that kills the worms.Helpful Reply
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Patty S on Sep 04, 2015The hornworm is the larvae of the butterflies. I control them by planting Marigolds in my tomato garden , one near each plant. The butterflies do not like marigolds and will not lay their eggs on your tomato plants. I have never had a hornworm since I started doing this.Helpful Reply
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Wilda Campton on Sep 04, 2015sprinkle with floor. I did once.Helpful Reply
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Jill on Sep 04, 2015Oh, I so wish I had them here. This last summer was bad. This summer was just as bad with the tomato hornworms here. One decimated tomato plant, all the leaves gone, and the tomatoes destroyed. But it didn't stop there. I have been constantly dealing with them and my brussel sprouts. Apparently, they like them too. Marigolds and all kind of bug resistant plants did no good. But, a little Dawn dish soap in a sprayer has kept them at bay and we might actually have brussel sprouts this year.Helpful Reply
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Louise on Sep 04, 2015If they can be mailed without killing them, I'd do it.Helpful Reply
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LILLIAN on Sep 04, 2015I thought they where mealybugs. Ive never heard of hornworms nor do they have them listed in Sunset?Helpful Reply
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AdrianaG on Sep 05, 2015For treating hornworms and other caterpillars, other than puling them off and squashing them, get Safer Garden Dust. At the first sign, sprinkle the plants. Home Depot carries it online. It is a safe organic treatment for all kinds of caterpillars. You need to have it on hand ahead of time, because by the time you order it and get it delivered the damage will be done.Helpful Reply
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Anne on Sep 05, 2015The caterpillars are tomato hornworms. They're beautiful creatures. The 'white grains of rice' looking things are the eggs of parasitic wasps, which, as they hatch, will consume the worm from the inside out. (What a horrible way to go!) Hornworms (if not attacked by the wasps and not killed with Sevin dust or other pesticide) will turn into beautiful Sphinx moths (AKA hawk moth or hummingbird moth), usually 4" to 6" in size. If you can spare a few plants, then let the worms munch as much foliage as they can. Check out this video from YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gk2PYeRvmWI.Helpful Reply
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Annie Medic on Sep 09, 2015Tomato hornworms with wasp eggs on it. Natural predation in affect. The horn worms are voracious tomato plant destroyers, the wasps keep them in check.Helpful Reply
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