Hornworms?

Pduzant 6/13/2011, 11:38 am

I'm seeing lil worms with horns in my SFG..
Any suggestion on an effective yet none chemical way to get rid of them?

**donnainzone5** 6/13/2011, 11:49 am

Planting borage nearby is reputed to repell the horned beasts.

For now, however, why not try donning a pair of thin gloves, picking the hornworms off, bagging them, then tossing them into the (non-recyclable) trash.

Squat_Johnson 6/13/2011, 12:53 pm

BT is a natural bacteria treatement that is organic approved. I have been using it on my tomatos for hornworms, and on broccolli-cabbage types for cabbage butterflies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bacillus_thuringiensis

at big box stores Thuricide brand name is common.

**camprn** 6/13/2011, 1:13 pm

If the horn worms looks like this, try to keep it alive long enough for the parasitic wasp eggs attached at the worm's back to hatch. I would certainly remove it from my tomato or pepper and away from the garden, as they can be very hungry. They will not bite but they are very strong and will want to hang onto the plant.
Hornworms? Tomato_Hornworm

I cannot bring myself to do it, but some of my gardener friends simply use the garden snips to kill them, quickly.

nancy 6/13/2011, 1:53 pm

I'm one of the ones who cuts them in half with my pruners. I can't bring myself to pluck them off the plant. And if they have those eggs all over them, the whole thing goes into soapy water - parasitic wasps also attack monarchs. Fortunately I haven't seen any yet this year. I'm sure that day is coming tho'.

duhh 6/13/2011, 2:39 pm

I have just plucked mine off the plant or chopped the whole branch off. So far it has kept them under control. Best time to find them is at night with a flashlight. Those white stripes on the side really pop out at you!

FamilyGardening 6/13/2011, 5:04 pm

ewwwwwwwwwww Hornworms? 615992

hugs
rose

martha 6/13/2011, 7:17 pm

When I had one, I cut off the branch and put it in a glass jar with a tomato leaf. That way the little wasps hatched. The tomato plant leaf was so that the wasp babies are what killed the worm, not me!

(I am such a wuss.....)

Pduzant 6/13/2011, 8:50 pm

thanks for the replies.

I was able to get some Hi-Yield BT concentrate form ACE here in JAX

http://www.fertilome.com/product.aspx?pid=c0365f1b-089d-4331-9d8e-f8fefeccb659

Used their mix instructions (1 1/2 oz per 3 Gallons of water.. As we are hopefully going to get some rain tonight I'll hold off til tomorrow to apply to all the plants that have the hornworns on them.. I didn't see any with the larva on their back - these things are very small right now, maybe 1/2" 3/4" at the most.

Again thanks!!

shannon1 6/14/2011, 12:23 am

I just picked the biggest hornworm ever off my Sun King. No wasp babies, you guys are so lucky. It must have been there a while. I saw the frass but just could not find the worm. Now I will be out there on my nights off with a flash light and give the neighbors one more thing to talk about. Just had some new ones move in two days ago. Thay are really think my MM one bucket shy of vermiculite.
I wonder if hornworm frass is as benifical to the soil as earthworm castings. Hornworms? 60389

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