Hornworms and Hummingbird Moths

The most traffic that search engines drive to this site is over the key words “tobacco hornworm” and “Hummingbird Moth”.  I figured a good explanation of the worm and its cousin the Tomato Horn Worm was therefore needed.

Both the Tobacco and Tomato Hornworms feed on tomato plants, it usually assumed when you have pesky green worms on your tomatoes, they must be Tomato Hornworms.  This isn’t necessarily true.  Last year I had Tobacco Hornworms grubbing down my tomato plants and pooping on my pretty fruit.  Here’s a brief explanation of the two, to aid in verification of which worm  is eating your plants:

(web citation) Info from About.com

Tomato Hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata and Manduca sexta

Tomato Hornworm

Adult Tomato Hornworm

Description: Early instar caterpillars range in color from white to yellow. As they molt and grow, tomato hornworm caterpillars turn to green with 8 v-shaped white marks on each side of their bodies. Tobacco hornworms differ slightly, having 7 diagonal white marks down each side instead. Both tomato and tobacco hornworms have a hornlike projection on their last segments – thus the name hornworm. Both pests are the larvae of sphinx moths, fat-bodied moths with small forewings. Eggs are oval and green, and laid singly on leaf surfaces.

Life cycle: Both tomato and tobacco hornworms overwinter in the soil as pupae. In spring, adults emerge from the ground to mate and lay eggs. When garden crops are not yet available, the adult moths will lay their eggs on other solanaceous plants, including weeds like jimsonweed, nightshade, and horse nettle. Caterpillars feed on foliage, reaching maturity within 4 weeks. The larvae then drop to the ground and pupate. A second generation of moths in midsummer, just when tomatoes and other nightshade crops are beginning to flower. These second generation caterpillars tend to do the most damage in the garden, before pupating in the soil in fall.

Crops damaged: Tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, and peppers. Caterpillars feed on foliage and sometimes on unripened fruit.

Signs and symptoms: Defoliation of host plants, especially near the top of the plants. As caterpillars get larger, defoliation accelerates and entire plants can be devoured quickly. Frass (black or green caterpillar droppings) on lower leaves or on ground under affected plant.

Control measures:

• Hand pick caterpillars and drop them in soapy water to destroy them. This requires a good eye, as hornworm caterpillars are well camouflaged.
• Turn or till soil at the end of the season to disturb any burrowing caterpillars or pupae.
• Keep the garden free of solanaceous weeds that provide tomato and tobacco hornworms additional hosts.
• Apply Bacillus thuringensis when larvae are young.
• Attract beneficial insects, such as predatory wasps and lady beetles, that feed on eggs and young caterpillars.
• Braconid wasps parasitize hornworms. If you find a hornworm with white, cylindrical projections on its body, leave it in the garden. These are braconid wasp pupae, and more parasitic wasps will emerge from them and find other hornworms to parasitize.

Tobacco Hornworms: (Buzzle.com  Web Citation)

Tobacco Horn Worm

Adult Tobacco Horn Worm

"Hummingbid Moth"

Tobacco hornworm is one of the most common insects in the garden. They are scientifically known as Menduca sexta and belong to the Sphingidae family. They are the larvae of the Sphinx moth and are often confused with the tomato hornworm or Menduca quinquemaculata that belongs to the same genus but as is clear from the scientific name, is a distinct species. In order to understand the insect better, let us consider some tobacco hornworm facts in this article.

Tobacco Hornworm Facts – Habitat and Distribution

Tobacco hornworms are very common in the southern states of the United States although their habitat stretches from Canada to Argentina. The tobacco hornworm habitat include the foliage of plants belonging to the Solanaceae family. Their most favorite host is the tobacco plant. In nature, tobacco hornworm diet includes leaves of the plants that they grow on. When raised in laboratory for scientific studies, the tobacco hornworm diet is wheat-germ based.

Tobacco Hornworm Facts – Life Cycle

Tobacco hornworm life cycle is a short one that spans over 30 to 50 days. It begins with the eggs that hatch into larvae. The larvae become the tobacco hornworm pupa that finally matures into an adult. The emergence of an adult moth by the transformation of the larva is an example of complete metamorphosis. Here is a step by step account of the tobacco hornworm life cycle.

Tobacco Hornwoorm Eggs
Tobacco hornworm eggs are spherical and translucent green in color. They are mostly found on the lower surface of leaves. However, occasionally these may also be laid by the female moth on the upper surfaces of leaves.

Tobacco Hornwoorm Larva
Within 2 to 4 days after they have been laid, the tobacco hornworm eggs hatch into larvae. Also known as the tobacco hornworm caterpillars, these larvae are green in color and about 70 millimeter in length. They feed on the foliage of the plant on which the eggs were laid. The tobacco hornworm caterpillar goes though 5 larval instars or developmental stages that span over a period of about 20 days. Throughout the successive instars, the caterpillar grows in size. The characteristic horn or spike on its abdominal segment that gives the caterpillar its name also keeps reducing in length in each successive instar. As the caterpillar approaches the final stage, it starts looking for a place to burrow so that it can enter its next stage, which is the pupa stage. This behavior of the pupa is rightly termed as wandering.

Tobacco Hornwoorm Pupa
Once the tobacco hornworm larvae mature, they drop on the ground and burrow into the soil to a depth of 10 to 15 cm. Here, they form a brown or reddish-brown colored pupa which is elongated and oval with a pointed posterior end. The tobacco hornworm pupa has a pronounced maxillary loop that encase its mouth parts. This loop extends to almost one-fourth the body length of the tobacco hornworm pupa. However, in case of the tomato hornworm pupa, the case is one-third the length of the pupa. The pupal stage is long and its duration is variable.

The Adult
The adult form of the tobacco hornworms are known as Carolina Sphinx moths or hawk moths. They are sexually dimorphic and have large forewings. Their identification marks are the orange yellow spots on their abdomen. The adults feed on nectar of flowers. It is due to their powerful and rapid beating of the wings that these moths are also known as the hummingbird moths. These moths are seen hovering over flowers during dusk.

Other Tobacco Hornworm Facts

• Tobacco hornworm is a model organism and is commonly used in neurobiology due to its short life cycle and easily accessible nervous system.
• The tobacco hornworm caterpillar causes great damage to the leaves of a tobacco plant. Just two such caterpillars can defoliate an entire plant.
• The distinguishing feature between tobacco hornworm and tomato hornworm caterpillars are the markings present on their bodies. While the tobacco hornworm has white diagonal lines, the tomato hornworm has V-shaped markings on its body.
• Tobacco hornworm caterpillars can be controlled using insecticides. Read more on pest control.
• Natural enemies include the stilt bug Jalysus spinosus that attack hornworm eggs. The braconoid wasp is a tobacco hornworm predator that lays eggs in the hornworm. As the eggs hatch, they eat their way out of the caterpillar slowly killing it.

One of the alarming tobacco hornworm facts is that due to their voracious appetite, these insects are one of the most destructive pests of the tobacco plant . If their growth is left unchecked, then tobacco hornworms are capable of destroying an entire crop.

Damage Inflicted: (University of Florida Citation)

Defoliation

Fruit Damage

Larvae are defoliators, usually attacking the upper portion of plants initially, and consuming foliage, blossoms and green fruits. They usually consume the entire leaf. Because the larvae of hornworms attain such a large size, they are capable of high levels of defoliation. About 90% of the foliage consumption occurs during the final instar. Larvae blend in with the foliage and are not easy to detect. Thus, it is not surprising that they often are not observed until they cause considerable damage at the end of the larval period

How to start hydroponic seeds or clones

Spouting Dome to Aeroponic Seedling Starter

2 inch net pot with root riot plugs

Neoprene Collar

EZ Clone Brand Spray Tips Attached to Aquarium Pump to Make an Aeroponic Seedling Starter

Bottom View With Air Stone Bubbler

Outside into 3 gallon pots

Training Single Stem Indeterminate Tomato Around Cages

Stem Training

2011 Hydroponic Tomato Selections

This year I purchased my tomato seeds from a mom and pop internet company called Gary Ibsen’s Tomato Fest.

He was very helpful and provided me a list of tomatoes that he believes will perform well in a hydroponic system.

There are a few that aren’t technically heirlooms, but have outstanding characteristics that he felt would thrive at meeting my desired guidelines.

My main criterion were flavor, crack-resistance, and the ability to set fruit during the hot humid N.C. summer.

Here is my list with the description from Tomato Fest:

Arkansas Traveler

A 100 year old heirloom tomato that was grown throughout the South from northwest Arkansas to North Carolina. Our TomatoFest organic tomato seeds produce indeterminate, regular-leaf, 6′, vigorous tomato plants that yield abundant crops of 8-ounce, round rose-pink tomatoes. Considered to be one of the best tasting tomato varieties with well balanced sweet/tart flavors. Arkansas Traveler is much esteemed for its ability to produce flavorful tomatoes under normally adverse conditions high heat, humidity or drought. Resistant to cracking and disease.

Atkinson

Introduced 1966 for southern, hot and humid areas by Auburn University. TomatoFest organic seeds produce indeterminate, regular-leaf, vigorous plants with good yields of 8 oz. to 1 lb., red, globe-shaped tomatoes that are very meaty with good, old-fashioned tomato flavors. Tomatoes are meaty. This is an outstanding tomato for sandwiches, salads and canning. Great for growing in Southeastern U.S. and tropical regions.  Disease Resistant. A good choice to grow as a fresh market tomato.

Aunt Ginny’s Purple-Heirloom

A productive heirloom beefsteak tomato of German origin that was brought into circulation by Rick Burkhart if Indiana whose family has raised it for 25 years. Our organic tomato seeds produce big, indeterminate, vigorous, potato-leaf tomato plants that yield abundant crops of 1-pound, deep-pink, juicy tomatoes with little cracking. Considered among the best heirloom tomatoes.
Excellent tomato in salads and on sandwiches.  Aunt Ginny’s Purple is an American favorite tomato. A Gary Ibsen favorite too.

Black Zebra

A natural and stabilized cross between Green Zebra and a black tomato by Jeff Dawson. This is one of the STARS of my whole tomato showcase. A proven success with markets and friends. Our TomatoFest organic tomato seeds produce vigorous, indeterminate, regular-leaf tomato plants that produce 4 oz., 1 1/2″, juicy, round tomatoes with purple/mahogany-colored skin with green stripes (like brush strokes) with exceptionally rich, complex, really delightful tomato flavors that contain hints of smoke and sweetness. Its flavor also carries the rich complexity associated with the best of black tomatoes. This this is one of our favorites for looks and taste. A winner! Once tried, you will keep this black tomato a place in your garden.

Brandywine, OTV

A potato-leaf heirloom named and released by Carolyn Male and Craig LeHoullier who state this tomato, “the best strain of Brandywine set apart from others by its smooth, creamy, almost buttery texture, and harmonious sweet flavor.” The fruits of this heirloom are rich red with a slight orange undertone and weigh an average of 1 lb. This variety is known to set fruit better than the Pink Brandywine.
Florida Pink

A heavy bearer of huge (1 to 3-pound) globes with few seeds and lots of flavor. A great cooking tomato. Sets fruit well at high temps.

HillBilly

An Ohio heirloom beefsteak originally from West Virginia producing 1-2 lb. huge, heavily-ribbed, orange-yellow fruit with red mottled skin and red streaks within. Very sweet, fruity flavors. Low acid. Try it in big slices with other colored tomatoes.

Mortgage Lifter, Radiator Charlie’s

Developed by M.C. Byles in the 1930’s, this heirloom tomato remains very much in demand in the Mid-Atlantic states. Mr. Byles, affectionately known as “Radiator Charlie” earned his nickname from the radiator repair business he opened at the foot of a steep hill on which trucks would often overheat. Radiator Charlie, who had no formal education or plant breeding experience, created this legendary tomato by cross-breeding four of the largest tomatoes he was able to find and developed a stable variety after six years of pollination and selection. He then sold his heirloom tomato plants for one dollar each (in the 1940’s) and paid off the six thousand dollar mortgage on his house in six years. It is said that each spring, gardeners drove as far as 200 miles to buy Charlie’s seedling tomatoes. The large, slightly flattened, pink-red fruits that range from 1 pound to more than 3 pounds, are meaty, very flavorful and have few tomato seeds.

Thai Pink Egg

Delicious, grape tomatoes from Thailand. This plant produces very large quantities of 1″ x 1 3/4″, 1 oz., brilliant, jade-pink fruits that look like pullet eggs. The crisp fruits burst with natural, candy-sweet flavor. This tomato is popular all over the Kingdom of Thailand. Perfect for fresh markets and snacking. Resists cracking even in heavy rain climates. A basket of these beauties rivals a bouquet of roses as a gift.

Thessaloniki

	Greek. Exceptionally good yields of crack-free, red, 8 oz. globes that resist sun scald. Wonderful rich taste.

Hurricane Earls Damage

Post Earl Photos

Tide came up really high.  I’m guessing around 6-8 feet.  My neighbor said he hasn’t seen it this high since Hurricane Emily in 1993.   Emily put tide up 10 feet, my neighbor said Earl’s high tide line was right around two feet lower than where he marked Emily’s.

Luckily the tide didn’t come high enough to get  in the truck or the camper.  Though, it was really close.

Here are some pic’s well after the tide has receded.

You can get an idea how high it came by looking at the tide lines in the grass.

I’ll update more pictures from the island once the tide recedes enough to drive on hwy 12.

Hurricane Earl Photos

Frisco Pier

Photos

Tomato Fruitworm Damage

Tomato Fruitworm

Green Zebra Photos

Greta Greene

Ripeness:

I keep the tomatoes rotated from green (left) to ripe (right).

Juicy Brandywine:

Catbirds Gone, Worms and Stinkbugs arrive.

The edible tomato weight is 181.25 pounds!

All variates are still producing, the Green Zebra exceptionally so.  They are starting to get out of control due to my lack of ‘sucker pinching’.

The Catbird Problem solved?

Hanging CD’s, Scarecrows, and birdbaths were ineffective at stopping the brave and pesky Catbirds  from eating my tomatoes.

I purchased red Christmas tree bulbs and hung them around the tomatoes to trick the Catbirds into leaving them alone.  (You can see them shining in the picture above.)  They theory is they are attracted to the bulb first b/c of their super ripe appearance, only to find they aren’t edible.  Upon this realization they are supposed to leave the tomatoes alone.

It seems to have worked, the birds aren’t eating my tomatoes any longer.

Causation not Correlation?

Are the birds still around the region?  Did they migrate somewhere else around the same time I placed the bulbs out?  Did they leave b/c I got rid of their favorite tomato — the Sun Gold?  I don’t know for sure, but I’ll be using them from now on, “just in case.”

Preying Mantis

A couple of weeks ago I found this large (7 inch) Preying Mantis on a gas pump handle.  I captured him in a container and took him home to prey upon insects eating my tomatoes.

Sun Gold Gone

I decided to pull the Sun Gold cherry tomato plant because it became invasive to surrounding plants.  The date on the tag was when it was planted outdoors in the system.

My New Pests:

I’ve had problems with Tomato Fruitworms (Helicoverpa zea) and Stink Bugs (Pentatomoidea).

I estimate in the last month 1/4 of my tomato  crop has been destroyed by one of these two pests.

I purchased the organic pesticide called Pyrethrum to spot spray the stink bugs.  The Bacillius thuringiensis (B.T.) I previously purchased for the Tobacco Horn Worms but never used,  is supposed to be effective against the Tomato Fruitworm.  I guess I’m going to give it a try.

I’ll post results  detailing if my my organic pesticides are effective at killing these two pests.

Bloody Mary/Vegetable Juice

Then only other point of interest is my wife and I juiced around 12 pounds of tomatoes using a Hamilton Beach juicer.  We also juiced celery, peppers, onion, parsley and carrots in an attempt to make a delicious Bloody Mary mix.  Two sips into our cocktails, we decided V8/Clamato is a tastier solution for a Bloody Mary mix, and that salsa is a much tastier product for my homegrown tomatoes.

Feeding/watering

The size of the plants and the hot August sun is causing my plants to drink around 20-25 gallons of water a day.  We’ve had plenty of rain so my two 55 gallon rain barrels have been doing the trick.  Occasionally I have to use my municipal water during times of  dry weather.

I’ve been keeping the solution at 67 degrees, the P.H. at 5.8-6.3, E.C. around 1.3, T.D.S around 1000.

108 Pounds of Tomatoes!

I never did have to use the  Bacillus thuringiensis to get rid of the Hornworm problem, I was able to hand pick them along with the help of a few Catbirds.
It seems that after they ran out of worms to eat they decided they would start eating my tomatoes!

I have tried a few things: Scarecrow, hanging CD’s, providing them a birdbath to drink from as well as placing the ruined/pecked tomatoes out in the open where they can more easily eat them.  The combination seems to have deterred them a little.

I estimate a total of 10 pounds were ruined.  Not bad considering as of today I have harvested 108 pounds of edible tomatoes!

Here is the statistical break down:

Brandywine: 90 tomatoes @ a 71 lbs for an average tomato size of 12.5 ounces.

Green Zebra: 14 tomatoes @ 3.5  lbs for an average tomato size of 4 ounces.

Black Krim: 35 tomatoes @ 20.5 lbs for an average tomato size of 9.3 ounces

Better Boy: 11 tomatoes @ 6.125 lbs for an average tomato size of 8.9 ounces.

Sungold: 7.35 lbs of cherry tomatoes.

My favorite tasting tomato I’m growing is the Brandywine.  It has a good ole’ fashioned tomato flavor.

The taste is a nice balance of acid and sweet.

Brandyine was not only the earliest to fruit, but it has also proven to be  most prolific and best tasting tomato in the garden.

The Sungolds are a great sugary snack but  picking them everyday can be tedious.

Black Krims have a mellow flavor, not very acidic or sweet.  Borderline bland.  Bland only in the heirloom flavor sense.  They still taste better than store bought variates.

Better Boys taste decent.  Kind of like a watered down Brandywine.

Green Zebras have a citrus-like,  ‘sharp’ acidic green flavor.

Horn worms and Hummingbird Moths

Tobacco Horn worms have an insatiable appetite for my Greene tomatoes.  The are lovely little caterpillars that come from the eggs planted by the Hummingbird Moth.  I’ve been picking them off and killing them, but they are so camouflage they are almost impossible to spot.  I plan on using a natural enzyme called Bacillus thuringiensis to control them naturally.

I’m also thinking about moving a few of them to sacrificial plants to see if I can hatch one of the beautiful Humming Bird Moths.  Take a look at what these caterpillars mature to.

Hummingbird Moth

Hummingbird Moth

Here they are in a less beautiful and far more destructive form.  The horn on its tail is soft and can not damage prey or people, it’s like an unloaded gun –useful only in scaring potential predators.

Tobacco Horn worm

Tobacco Horn worm

Tobacco Horn worm

Tobacco Horn worm

The plants are growing/producing well.

As of today I have picked 26 pounds of edible Brandywine tomatoes.

Fruiting plants

Brandywine Tomatoes

The largest I have picked so far was right under 2 pounds.   It weighed 32 ounces to be exact:

32 ounce Brandywine

Sliced Brandywine