Tomato & Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillars

Aaaaah, that time of the year, when fruit ripens in trees, butterflies abound and refreshing tomatoes taste better than ever. Problem is…we are not the only ones after this tasty treat. Tobacco & tomato hornworms share our taste for this juicy treat (yes, tobacco hornworm loves tomatoes as well & pretty much the only difference between one and the other is that the ‘horn’ on tobacco caterpillars is red and tomato caterpillars’ is green & black).
If you’ve ever fallen asleep to a tomato bush full of fruit and promising blooms and woke up to most of it gone you should carefully check your tomato plants. Check for humongous yet inconspicuous green caterpillars like the ones shown in the photos below this entry.
Our first instincts/feelings as organic gardeners, nature lovers & sub/urban farmers will naturally be mixed. There is, however, a somehow utilitarian way to deal with the issue. First consider the good in these creatures: as adults (sphinx moths…you know, those cool flying thingies that fly like hummers) they get busy pollinating night blooming flowers while we sleep. Then consider alternatives that don’t involve petroleum-based pesticides. Here are some options: 1. Avoid the problem to begin with, be sure to invite plants that attract beneficial insects such as parasitic wasps which love fennel & dill flowers. 2. Learn to recognize their eggs (which are dark brown/grayish and look like tiny cylindrical bird poop…at least that is what they look like to me) and discard them. 3. Pick them by hand (I use a thin stick for them to attach to) and make them bird food (I do that but also ‘save’ some in a tomato plant that I have solely for them…away from the ones we plan to eat). 4. Place a bird bath near your tomato plants, the birds will thank you and you won’t have to hunt for these Godzillas of the caterpillar world by hand.