How to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms

The tomato hornworm, is the larval stage of the five-spotted hawk moth, Manduca quinquemaculata, is much dreaded by vegetable gardeners because it can devastate tomatoes and other members of the nightshade (Solanaceae) family. Fortunately, once you identify these pests, they're fairly easy to eradicate. If it wasn't for the damage they cause, these insects would be fascinating to study. The worms are large and brilliant green in color, with a formidable-looking but harmless horn on the back. The adult is a large, interesting hawk moth with a wingspan up to 5 inches.

But in the hornworm phase they are voracious pests, munching entire leaves, small stems, and even parts of the immature fruit. While most commonly associated with infested tomatoes, hornworms are also common pests of eggplants, peppers, and potatoes. Most likely, you'll notice the damage before you notice the hornworms because their color helps them blend in so well with the plant foliage. You can look for their black frass (droppings) on the foliage and around the base of the plant. Undetected, a tomato hornworm can do a fair amount of damage to its host plant. They have hearty appetites and can defoliate a plant in a matter of days. However, if they are detected and removed early on, the plant will recover just fine.

Lifecycle

The tomato hornworm represents the larval stage of the five-spotted hawk moth, sometimes known as the sphinx moth. These moths overwinter in the soil as dark brown pupae, then emerge and mate in late spring. They lay their round, greenish-white eggs on the undersides of leaves. The eggs hatch in four to five days and the hornworm emerges. It spends the next four weeks growing to full size, after which it will make its way into the soil to pupate before emerging as a new moth.

5 Ways to Get Rid of Tomato Hornworms

Pick Off the Worms by Hand

Because the hornworm is so large, the easiest and most effective way to get rid of it is to pick them off the plants as soon as you detect them. You can then either crush them or toss them into a bowl of soapy water. While the worms look a bit fierce, the horn on the back is not sharp enough to pierce the skin. If you're squeamish, though, you can wear a glove or use tongs to pick off the worms.

Use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis)

A bad infestation of hornworms can be treated by applying Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), a natural bacteria that is often found in soil. When hornworms eat the bacteria, it paralyzes the caterpillar's digestive system; they soon stop feeding and finally die off. Bt is substance-specific to caterpillars; it will not impact other insects, including bees. Application is most effective when the larvae are small. There are many strains of Bt available; consult your local garden center or local Extension Service office for recommendations on what strain is currently most effective on hornworms.

Till Soil Annually

If worms are a problem year after year, try roto-tilling the soil either in late fall or in spring before you plant; this will either bury the pupae or destroy them before they can hatch into egg-laying moths.

Encourage Natural Predators

Tomato hornworms have several natural predators. If you live in an area that allows chickens, turning a few birds loose in your tomato patch will likely cure your hornworm problems, as chickens love to eat hornworms and caterpillars. Many other birds also eat hornworms, such as crows and owls, though some of these birds are also known to eat tomato fruit.

An even more effective predator is any one of the several types of parasitic braconid wasps that attach eggs to the backs of tomato hornworms. When the eggs hatch, the larvae consume the hornworm as food, eventually killing it. If you discover a hornworm covered with tiny white egg sacs, leave it alone, as this indicates you have a healthy population of parasitic wasps present in your garden to control the hornworms. Let the eggs hatch, and you'll have an army of wasps ready to defend your garden against all types of pests. These wasps are not a threat to humans.

Draw the wasps to the garden by planting dill, clover, sweet alyssum, or fennel.

Make Your Own Repellant

Another organic method for killing tomato hornworms is to mix dishwashing liquid and water together to spray onto the plant foliage. While the foliage is still wet, sprinkle cayenne pepper over the foliage and fruit. The soap solution kills the worms, while the cayenne repels new invadors. This treatment will need to be repeated after each heavy rain. 

What Causes Tomato Hornworms?

Tomato hornworms are often found in areas where there are vegetables from the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, etc.) growing. The adult moths have a preference for the nectar of certain plants with large, fragrant night-blooming flowers, such as Ipomoea alba (moonflower), (moonflower), Oenothera biennis (evening primrose), and Mirabilis multiflora (four o' clocks). A garden with plants catering to both phases of the insect is very likely to experience hornworms.

How to Prevent Tomato Hornworms

Regular tilling of the soil and crop rotation are important for preventing hornworms, as both destroy the pupae in the soil or prevent the emerging moths from having convenient plants on which to lay eggs.

Tomato Hornworms vs. Tobacco Hornworms

The tomato hornworm and tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta, are often confused with one another. They are very similar in appearance and both worms attack members of the Solanaceae plant family. The tomato hornworm is 3 to 4 inches long at full size (likely to be the biggest caterpillar we see in our gardens) and green in color, with eight diagonal white stripes along its sides. A black horn projects from the rear of the caterpillar. Tobacco hornworms, on the other hand, have seven diagonal white stripes and a red horn. The adult moth is known as the Carolina sphinx moth or tobacco hawk moth

Both worms are managed in the same way as garden pests.