How to Identify and Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms
Big, fat, and green! These caterpillars can do a lot of damage to our summer crops. Get ready by learning about how to control tomato hornworms in your garden.
What Are Hornworms?
If you’ve ever grown tomatoes, chances are good that you’ve dealt with these green caterpillar pests. There are two main garden pest species, tomato hornworms, and tobacco hornworms, which can be found in most regions of the U.S. and in southern Canada. Both species can ruin your tomato crop in record time! They also feed on other plants in the Solanaceae (nightshade) family: eggplants, peppers, tobacco, and potatoes. They blend in quite easily with the green foliage and feed non-stop, creating spotty and chewed leaves and fruit.
Tomato (and tobacco) hornworms live according to the following life cycle:
- In late spring, large adult moths lay eggs on the undersides of foliage, which will hatch within a week. The adult moths are easily recognizable; they’re commonly called sphinx or hummingbird moths.
- Caterpillar larvae will hatch in late spring and feed for 4–6 weeks before creating a cocoon, overwintering in their pupal state in the soil. If the weather is warm enough, larvae may only burrow for as little as 2–3 weeks.
- Moths will emerge in the spring, and will then lay eggs once again. More than one generation a year may be possible in warmer climates.
Tomato hornworm moth (female). Look out for the moths in late spring. Photo by Didier Descouens/Wikimedia Commons.
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How to Identify Tomato Hornworms
Hornworms can be up to 5 inches long—which can be quite a shock when you first come across one! They do the most damage in the caterpillar—or larval—stage. They are pale green with white and black markings, plus a horn-like protrusion stemming from their rear. (Don’t worry, they aren’t able to sting or bite!) The caterpillar also has eight V-shaped stripes on its green body. Tomato hornworms come from a mottled brown-gray moth (see picture, above).
The larvae blend in really well with the plant greenery. Just get used to a daily patrol, looking for hornworm eggs and small caterpillars. Here are some cues of infestations:
- Hornworms tend to start feeding from the top of the plant; look for chewed or missing leaves.
- Look closely at the TOP of your tomato leaves for dark green or black droppings left by the larvae feeding on the leaves. Then look at the underside of leaves, and you’ll likely find a hornworm.
- Look for stems missing some leaves and wilted leaves hanging down. You may find white cocoons and their hornworm hosts nearby.
Tomato hornworm
Tomato vs. Tobacco Hornworms
There are a few species of hornworms that inhabit North American gardens, including tomato hornworms (Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta). Both species feed on common garden plants like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, and eggplants. Here’s how to tell which caterpillar is which:
- Tobacco hornworms have parallel white stripes; tomato hornworms have white V–shaped markings.
- Tobacco hornworms have black spots lining each of their stripes; tomato hornworms do not.
- Tobacco hornworms have a red “horn” on their tail end; tomato hornworms have a black horn.
Can you tell which hornworm this is? (It’s a tobacco hornworm! Notice the white stripes with dotted black lines and a red “horn.”)
Tomato Hornworm Damage
If you see leaves with large holes and severe defoliation, devoured flowers, and/or scarring on fruit surfaces, you might have tomato or tobacco hornworms. The fruit also may be damaged by sunscald because of the reduced foliage cover.
How to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms
- Handpicking is an excellent tactic for control if you have the time and patience, or a small garden. The caterpillars are not dangerous and can neither sting nor bite. If you are squeamish about crushing these large insects, drop them into soapy water instead (or feed them to your chickens, if you’ve got a flock).
- If the hornworm population or the area of your garden is too large, insecticides can be effective, though they should be a last resort. You can use the organic pesticide Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is a bacterium that acts as a stomach poison on some larval insects (but doesn’t harm other plants or animals). Bt must be ingested by the caterpillars to be effective, and it must be reapplied to plant foliage after rain. Please check with your local Cooperative Extension for a list of approved insecticides in your area.
- Insecticidal soaps will also kill hornworms, but the pests need to come into direct contact with the substance.
A tobacco hornworm covered with parasitic wasp eggs.
How to Prevent Tomato Hornworms
- Till soil at the beginning and end of each gardening season to destroy overwintering larvae. Tillage has been shown to cause up to 90% mortality.
- Keep wasps around; a number of species are beneficial insects that feed on hornworms and act as a biological control. You may see hornworms with parasitic wasp larvae attached, which look like grains of rice (see picture, above). These attacked hornworms will continue to feed for a little while, but will soon succumb to their hitchhikers, so it’s wise to leave them alone and let the wasps carry out their life cycle. Alternatively, remove infected hornworms and place them far away from your garden. This way, the wasps will still do their job, but the hornworm won’t continue to damage your crops.
- Other beneficial insects, like ladybugs and green lacewings, may feed on young hornworms or hornworm eggs.
- To keep hornworms away from your tomato plants next year, try interplanting dill or basil; marigolds are also an excellent companion plant.
See the Almanac Garden Pest and Disease Library for more information on common pest problems.
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CUTWORM SOLITION
Cut worms can be prevented from damaging your newly planted tomatoes plants by placing a thin stick immediately adjacent to the main stem at planting. Use a toothpick or a broken dead twig. This prevents the cutworm from being able to wrap its body around the plant, which is typically how they feed.
I grew tomatoes in a container last year, they developed leaf miners and did not do so well. I think I only got 2 small tomatoes from my 5 ft plant. This year, I want to try something different. I will incorporate most or all of your suggestions. How do I prevent leaf miners this year, from destroying my tomatoes in containers? Thank you.
Check out our Pest Guide on leaf miners for prevention advice: Leaf Miners
I have 2 tomato plants growing in an Earthbox this year. Brand new container and soil. I found one really large horn worm the other day. Today have found 3 more. Trying to learn about these things. Just wonder how did I end up with these horn worms in a Earthbo sitting in an open area on concrete.
The adult hornworm moths likely flew in and laid eggs on your plants, which appear to be hatching! Inspect under leaves and stems to look for the caterpillars while they’re still small.
Killing hornworms is really offensive to me because they morph into hummingbird moths, which are incredibly beautiful. They don’t bite or sting and can easily be relocated to native plants outside of the garden. Dropping them into soapy water is pretty darn cruel.
Hornworms eating my tomato plants is very offensive. Regardless how pretty or ugly. I spend alot of time and money to grow veggies. Dropping the worm into soapy water is not cruel and neither is slamming them onto the pavement.
In my garden…Tomato and bell pepper lives matter too. Actually, the tomatoes and bell peppers feed my family. So, they matter more. I’m all for teaching these pesky Horned Caterpillars to blow soap bubbles from their little mouths. Death to horned caterpillars.
I will stir up a fire ant nest and then drop the horn worms on top of the mound. And the ants work the worms over. And sometimes a mocking bird will eat the worms.
I found a huge green caterpillar on my tomato plant. It was green full of my tomato leaves. Those flowers of those future tomatoes, were supposed to feed me this summer/fall. I lost some big beef tomatoes bc if it. Nevertheless, I didn't kill it, thinking; it would turn into a beautiful butterfly, my favorite insect. In this article I learned the truth...it will turn into a moth. Don't like moths. Anyway, I broke the branch and threw it outside of my property. After that experience, I took the tomato plants and house them into my little green house. The green house has a window which I leave open for ventilation. Is there a chance that a moth will get at my Peppers and Tomatoes there too? I have planted basil, dill (young onions) and Rosemary and also a pot of lavender. Will those herbs/plant keep pests away?
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