Once you’ve spotted this pest, you’ll want to take action before it harms your plant.
Although theyre called the tomato hornworm, they dont only feast on tomato plants.
Alex Kantor is the owner of Perfect Plants Nursery in Florida.
Credit:Getty Images
Why You Dont Want Them on Your Plants
They are fond of tomatoes.
They hatch into caterpillars usually within a week.
What To Do When You Spot Them
Youll want to act quickly when you see a hornworm.
Seeing one of these caterpillars usually means there are several.
Make a Deterrent spray
Want to deter them but not kill them?
Consider making a natural spray with items in your pantry.
This spray will typically deter these pests but Kantor notes that it may even kill them.
Though using an insecticide means they will be killed.
Consider Companion Planting
Another way to deter these pests is to practicecompanion planting.
But these arent the only two plants to grow alongside tomatoes to deter hornworms.
Every creature has its prey and predators and hornworms arent an exception.
Be prepared because how these wasps eat these caterpillars isnt pleasant.
Wasps are integral pollinators, such is the interconnected food web.
Hornworms that survive and turn into moths are important pollinators for various blossoms.
University of Florida, Entomology & Nematology.Tomato hornworm.
University of Minnesota Extension.Tomato hornworms in home gardens.
