Wet August Brings Tomatoes and Tomato Hornworms to Mid-Ohio Valley

The Mid-Ohio Valley is experiencing one of its wettest Augusts in recent memory, with rain totals exceeding 8 inches in many areas. This has led to a thriving harvest of tomatoes, peppers, green beans, sweet corn, and other vegetables. However, gardeners should be aware of the potential for tomato hornworm infestations.

The tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) is a voracious pest that can quickly defoliate tomato plants in home gardens. These large caterpillars have a prominent horn-like tail and feed on tomato leaves, as well as occasionally consuming green fruit. If left unchecked, they can decimate a plant.

Control measures include hand-picking the worms from infested plants, dropping them into soapy water to kill them, and using biological controls such as Bacillus thuringensis (BT) or products containing spinosad. These methods are effective in managing hornworm populations and preventing damage to crops.