What is This Caterpillar?

Horn Worms turn into Five Spotted Hawkmoths. Here is a photo of a Hawkmoth below our tomatoes last spring. We innocently thought, "What a pretty moth." Because we didn't know better than to ignore the visitation last spring, we had an army of Horn Worms hatch out to torment our garden this spring.

Did it look like the one in our photo? If so, they are Horn Worms. We had them this spring. They can strip a tomato plant overnight to stems only. Pesticide free way to be rid of them is to pluck them off, what you do with them after that is up to you. If left unchecked, they eat to get their fill and then cocoon up for turning into a moth. Then fly away. Do be aware, before they leave, they lay eggs in the soil below the ravaged plant. Later the eggs hatch out and the next generation will eat through your tomatoes the next season. What's on the plant and what's in the soil are both problems. Hope you get lots of suggestions on how to eradicate them. I will post a photo of the moth in a moment.

The best preventative I have ever found for the evil tomato hornworm is marigolds. I used to get the nasty worms all the time, but then I read that they are confused or repelled by the scent of marigolds. Since then I have planted several marigold plants around each of my tomato plants and have never had another hormworm. It makes a pretty companion planting, I don't lose any plants and I don't have to touch the icky things.

Yes, it is a tomato hornworm. However, please bear in mind that they are not exclusive to tomato plants. I have problems with them too, and I have also found them on my honeysuckle plants and on the raywood ash tree in my front yard.

Watch on the ground for their droppings. They are a dead give-away to their locations. They usually don't like to be on the same branch as another hornworm, and they do their damage at night. Pick very first thing in the morning - the earlier the better. I've even gone out with a flashlight before dawn. They'll hide once they sense the sun is coming out.

We call them tomato cows here but they are hornworms. I have to cut the branch sometimes they are on cause they won't let go. I throw them to my chickens they love them. Check your plants often they can destroy a tomato plant in one day (I had it happen).

It is a tomato hornworm. They eat the leaves and tomatoes and will ruin your plants. Pick off the worms and destroy them. I say them because they usually aren't alone. Check your plants often for these pests. I never sprayed or used chemicals, just remove the caterpillars.