How do I recognize tomato worms?

tomato worms, also called tomato horn, are a type of caterpillar, which feeds primarily on plants in the Nightshade family, such as tomatoes and eggplants. They are relatively large caterpillars and measure around 4 inches (about 10 centimeters) in length when they are fully grown. The pests can be difficult to see on the tomato plant because they have a color and texture similar to the plant stems, although the tomato worm body has angular white stripes on the side. The symptoms that tomato worms attack the tomato plant include large areas of leaves, stems and fruit that have been consumed, as well as a small black droppings either on the underside of the leaves or on the leaves near the bottom of the plant. When the worms are carried out on the plant, they fall into the soil to complete the moth and can be hibernated in the soil, if they are not interrupted, in the spring appear to lay more eggs.

In most gardens, tomato worms are relatively easy to identify. They are a large kind of caterpillar and are light green in color, almost identicalWith the color of the stems of traditional tomato plants. Along the sides of the caterpillar are brands in the shape of white arrows that point to the head. On the back of the caterpillar is small, dark - almost black - a tip that looks like a corner. A similar type of caterpillar, called tobacco worm, has almost the same appearance, except that the corner is red and white marks on the side do not produce Chevron or the shapes of the arrows and instead are just an angry white slash.

Primary evidence that the worms tomatoes infested a plant of tomatoes are areas of plants where large parts of the leaves were eaten. The caterpillars will also eat stems of plants and fruits when they are small and easy to handle. When the worms move through the plant, they tend to hang upside down, which means that it occasionally leaves a dark droppings on the underside of the leaves or, if the droppings fall, culminate on the surface of the lower leaves of the plant.

One thing to note is that some worms of tomatoes may seem to have small white eggs attached to their exterior. This collegeCe are larvae of the type of wasp that put eggs in the worm tomatoes. In general, the worms that have wax larvae are left alone to produce more wasps that will help control the tomato worms in time. However, the best -selling method is manipulating the tomato worm contamination is physically removed and destroyed. If tomato worms return year after year, the larvae could be appalled in the soil, which means that the soil should be aggressive to destroy them to a depth of about 6 inches (about 15 centimeters).