Tomato Worms: TWs have devastated my tomato plants this yr. Off to a great start, they have been "gnawed to the bone," so to speak. My vision is such that iit is virtually impossible...

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

TWs have devastated my tomato plants this yr. Off to a great start, they have been "gnawed to the bone," so to speak. My vision is such that iit is virtually impossible for me to spot them on my plants. Anyone know of a spray-on prduct that will eliminate these pests? TIA

Dean

Mike D. Loc: Crowley County, CO.

Google is your friend, Dean,

There are pesticides such as Sevin that should do the trick and other products that are readily available at Walmart. Lowe's, or Home Depot.

letmedance Loc: Walnut, Ca.

Look for there scat on the leaves below them, usually black spots. Next time you plant tomatoes plant smelly basil like Thai Basil, the smell will mask the tomato smell and the Horn worm moth will not find the tomato plants to lay eggs on.

BigOldArt Loc: Seminole, FL

Check with you local agricultural extension agent.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

Mike D. wrote:

Google is your friend, Dean,

There are pesticides such as Sevin that should do the trick and other products that are readily available at Walmart. Lowe's, or Home Depot.

Thanks Mike, 'preciate the rec.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

letmedance wrote:

Look for there scat on the leaves below them, usually black spots. Next time you plant tomatoes plant smelly basil like Thai Basil, the smell will mask the tomato smell and the Horn worm moth will not find the tomato plants to lay eggs on.

Thanks LMD, tough challenge for my eyesight. Will pay closer attention.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

BigOldArt wrote:

Check with you local agricultural extension agent.

Good advice, thanks. My former neigbor was an Ag Instr at NC State in Raleigh. Wish he was still here.

DirtFarmer Loc: Escaped from the NYC area, back to MA

BT
Bacillus Thuringensis.

It's a stomach poison specific to larvae of Lepidoptera (which includes tomato hornworms). They eat a leaf with BT on it and it paralyzes their gut. They stop feeding and die. Since it's specific to Lepidoptera, it doesn't harm beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs. Widely used by organic farmers. Readily available in most hardware stores. Sometimes called Spinosad.

But if you kill all your tomato hornworms you won't have any five-spotted Hawkmoths.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

DirtFarmer wrote:

BT br Bacillus Thuringensis. br br It's a stomach... (show quote)

Good to know, tks DF.

avflinsch Loc: Hamilton, New Jersey

DeanS wrote:

TWs have devastated my tomato plants this yr. Off to a great start, they have been "gnawed to the bone," so to speak. My vision is such that iit is virtually impossible for me to spot them on my plants. Anyone know of a spray-on prduct that will eliminate these pests? TIA

Dean

Go out at night with a UV flashlight - they glow a bright greenish/blue and just pick them off.
I usually feed them to the frogs in my pond.

erandolph Loc: La Pine, Oregon USA

I used BT for many years in Arizona. Works like a charm. And chickens love them.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

avflinsch wrote:

Go out at night with a UV flashlight - they glow a bright greenish/blue and just pick them off.
I usually feed them to the frogs in my pond.

Novel ifea, tks.

jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

DeanS wrote:

TWs have devastated my tomato plants this yr. Off to a great start, they have been "gnawed to the bone," so to speak. My vision is such that iit is virtually impossible for me to spot them on my plants. Anyone know of a spray-on prduct that will eliminate these pests? TIA

Dean

A duster pesticide--Seven is a good one.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

[quote=DirtFarmer]BT
Bacillus Thuringensis.

It's a stomach poison specific to larvae of Lepidoptera (which includes tomato hornworms). They eat a leaf with BT on it and it paralyzes their gut. They stop feeding and die. Since it's specific to Lepidoptera, it doesn't harm beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs. Widely used by organic farmers. Readily available in most hardware stores. Sometimes called Spinosad.

Tomato Hornworms are so big I can usually eliminate them by simply hand picking them off the plant. If you see a clump of little white eggs on the Hornworm's back, those are from a parasitic wasp whose larva will feed on, and kill, the Hornworm. So just remove and relocate those specimens. Otherwise, the BT is your most environmentally friendly choice. Oh yeah, when you pick a Hornworm off your tomato, it'll turn around and try to "bite" you. Intimidating but harmless.

DeanS Loc: Capital City area of North Carolina

erandolph wrote:

I used BT for many years in Arizona. Works like a charm. And chickens love them.

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