Hornworms
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Collapse ▲This article was written by Matthew Clay, 2021 NCSU Summer Intern for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.
Hornworms feed typically on solanaceous crops, which include tomatoes and tobacco. There are two species of hornworm that can be found in North Carolina: the tobacco hornworm (Manducta Sexta) and the tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculate). Damage caused by each one is similar. There are seven diagonal stripes on the sides of the tobacco hornworm, and its horn is usually red, while the tomato hornworm has V-shaped white markings on its sides, and the horn is frequently black.
In June, overwintering adults will emerge from pupae as moths. A moth can lay up to 2,000 eggs and will lay around five eggs per plant visit, which typically happens at dust. Eggs are light green and turn white right before hatching, which takes about four days. One can check for eggs by checking the underside of the leaves. Once the larvae emerge plant destruction will occur. Defoliation of leaves is the most common damage, but fruit damage of tomato plants can also occur.
With our climate in North Carolina, three generations of hornworms can occur during the season with pest pressure being the highest in July. Frequently check your plants to determine if hornworms are present. Look for black droppings on leaves and observe for signs of leaf and fruit damage as an indication if a hornworm infestation has occurred.
Hornworms are naturally controlled by the braconid wasp and can be easily recognized from the white pupae attached to the Hornworm. One should not remove these hornworms if found on a plant to promote natural predation. During
Hornworm
most seasons, the parasitic wasps can keep the hornworm at low levels. However, homeowners can hand remove hornworms when found on a plant and place them in a bucket of soapy water. If insecticides are your preferred option, they should contain the active ingredient neem oil, spinosad, and azadirachtin. Make sure to follow the label recommendations to apply the right amount, rate, and at the right time. Roto-tilling the soil after fruit harvest is very effective, and tillage has been shown to destroy up to 90 percent of the caterpillars pupating in the soil. For more information about hornworms and other pests visit Insect and Related Pests of Vegetables.
Matthew Clay is the 2021 Summer Intern for North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Lee County.