How to Avoid a Tomato Hornworm Caterpillar

Tomato hornworms can decimate a garden of tomato plants in short order. These green, 3-inch long caterpillars blend into tomato plants, making them difficult to see. They have a red horn that protrudes from their rear and white stripes down the length of their body. These pests strip the foliage from the tomato plants and may also feed upon developing fruits. Young plants are most at risk, but even mature tomato plants can fall prey to the hornworm. Rid yourself of these pests by following a few simple steps.

Soapy water

Instructions

- 1
  Weed and clear the garden bed of all fallen plant debris throughout the gardening season. Hornworm pupae develop inside the soil and the litter left on top. Removal of the debris and litter minimizes the hornworm population.
- 2
  Till the soil after pulling the tomato plants in fall. Tilling destroys any overwintering hornworm pupae and caterpillars in the soil.
- 3
  Rotate your crops yearly to prevent hornworms that did overwinter successfully from finding your tomato plants. Avoid planting tomatoes, potatoes, peppers or eggplants in the same bed or two years in a row. Hornworms feed on all these plant varieties.
- 4
  Inspect the plants daily for hornworms if defoliation occurs. Pick the caterpillars off the plants and submerge them in soapy water to kill them.

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