Parasitic Hornworm on Tilly Foster Farm Tomato Plant

According to the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam, one of the most caterpillars found in home gardens is the hornworm, which eats the leaves of tomato plants.

And one of the common parasites in home gardens is a small wasp.

Occasionally hornworms are seen with a number of white projections protruding from their bodies. These are the cocoons of the small parasitic braconid wasps. The wasp larvae feed inside the caterpillar and kill the host upon emergence.

That’s what they found on a tomato plant at Tilly Foster Farm.

If you’ve got hornworms, hand picking them off infested plants is a good way to control them. If they become too numerous, there are several insecticides registered in New York State for home garden use. Check the product label to make sure that it can be used on tomato, for hornworms.

IMPORTANT: Also check the label for the Days to Harvest, to determine the minimum number of days to wait before picking tomatoes for use, after application.

PHOTO: Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam on Facebook.