![]() ![]() Tomato and tobacco hornworms feed only on solanaceous plants (i.e., plants in the nightshade family), most typically tomato and less commonly eggplant, pepper and potato. However, large numbers of larvae can occasionally occur in home gardens, leading to significant damage. These insects do not typically cause significant damage in commercial vegetable fields. sexta) are large, blue-green caterpillars (larvae) with a spine (horn) on the posterior (rear) end. The small braconid wasps are attracted to small flowers like yarrow and small asters.Tomato hornworms ( Manduca quinquemaculata) and tobacco hornworms ( M. ![]() To persuade the wasps to stay in your garden you will need to have flowers. This small wasp has clear wings and as an adult they are nectar feeders. There is a braconid wasp, Cotesia congregates, that specifically looks for tomato hornworms. There are some generalist parasitic wasps that will provide that service for you. The hope is that the emerging wasps will find other tomato hornworms to parasitize and you will have managed that pest. Eventually adult wasps will emerge from the cocoons and the weakened hornworm will die. ![]() The larvae eat their way out of the caterpillar and spin the cocoons you see. As the eggs hatch the larvae actually feed on the hornworm insides. A female wasp has laid her eggs under the skin of that hornworm. The white obtrusions are actually the cocoons of a parasitic wasp. However, if you find a hornworm with white oblong obtrusions, leave it! If you find hornworms in your tomatoes, simply pick them off and drop them in soapy water. These caterpillars have a large appetite and can quickly defoliate a tomato plant. Tomato hornworms ( Manduca quinquemaculata) are a serious problem for tomato growers. ![]()
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