Skip to Content

How To Get Rid Of Tomato Hornworms Naturally

So, you go out to your garden and find your tomato plants defoliated. Ugh…. NOT what you wanted to see. Don’t take the chance of tomato hornworms ruining your tomato plants this summer! Here’s how to get rid of tomato hornworms naturally.

A close up of a tomato hornworm

You need to take action the moment that you notice them to ensure that you are stopping the problem from spreading to all of your tomato plants!

What Are Tomato Hornworms?

The tomato hornworm is the larvae of the beautiful sphinx moth. They start their life cycle hatching and growing into green caterpillars.

And even though these moths are beautiful, I don’t want their larva on my tomatoes.

Hummingbird sphinx butterfly

If you’ve ever noticed these green “worms” on your tomato plants, this is cause for alarm! They can be quite large (they can double in size in one day), up to several inches in length and can do quite a bit of damage during this phase.

Their coloring is a green body with varying marks colored in white or black. Plus, they have stripes on their body as well. Identifying those markings early will help you plan your next steps in identifying how to rid them from your tomato plants.

How to find the hornworms

Since they are green, it’s very easy to miss them. Sometimes, it’s impossible to find them during the day. You can try and look for droppings, and follow that trail.

But if you can’t find them during the day, it’s best to have a black light in the house. (this one is very popular, with over 6500 great reviews) And as soon as it gets dark, go exploring.  The hornworms will glow in the dark. your kids might have fun helping 😉

Glowing hornworm seen under a black light

What Damage Can Tomato Hornworms Do?

 

Tomato hornworms have the ability to destroy your tomato plants and crops! They will eat through the leaves and work their way through the remainder of the plant at an extremely quick pace.

If you are worried that you may have tomato hornworms in your garden, here are some clues that you might be absolutely right!

EVERY SINGLE DAY you need to go and check on your tomato plants. If you notice leaves that look to have holes or are starting to become a bit droopy and wilted, you need to take a closer look at the plants. Get eye level with them and look under the leaves to see if you notice any worms.

You’ll also see hornworm droppings in your tomato leaves or on the ground under your tomatoes. The hornworm poop might be easier to spot than the actual worm. The droppings are also green, and they look like pellets.

If you see any signs, caterpillars, cocoons, or droppings, it’s time to take the next step on how to rid your garden of tomato hornworms. The longer you delay, the quicker they will spread.

There are other tomato pests and diseases such as aphids, white-fly, and red spider mites. Here are more tomato plant problems you might want to be prepared for.

How To Get Rid Of Tomato Hornworms Naturally

If you see a hornworm with lots of white pods sticking out of it, leave it alone. It means it’s been infested by wasps it will soon die.

Tomato hornworm parasitised by wasps

1. Remove them by hand

The good thing (and probably the ONLY good thing!) about tomato hornworms is that they don’t bite or sting humans. Therefore, you can easily grab them and remove them by hand to get them off of your plants.

Depending on how many you have, this process could take a while, but in order to save your garden, it is necessary!

What can you do with the worms once you pick them by hand? If you raise chickens, you can feed them to your chickens. Or, add them to your bird feeders. And if you like to fish, they might make good fish bait.

2. Use a DIY natural homemade solution

Keep the chemicals off your tomato plants and opt for a more natural solution instead. Combine liquid dish soap and water and spray the plants and worms until covered. This should kill off the tomato hornworms without causing any type of further damage to your garden plants.

Some also say that covering the outside of the plants with a bit of cayenne pepper can also help to keep the worms from coming back. Just in case the rain comes and washes away the soap/water combination before eliminating them.

3. Spray with BT (Bacillus Thuricide)

Naturally occurring bacteria that attack caterpillars, but leavers beneficial insects alone, sprays made with BT are safe for your tomatoes and safe for the insects we want in our garden.

Keep in mind that tomato hornworms also like other garden vegetables besides just tomato plants! Always monitor your peppers, potatoes and eggplant plants as well to ensure that you don’t lose those crops, too!

The sooner that you catch them and get rid of them, the better the chance that your garden will rebound and produce!

Hornworms

Website | + posts

Adriana Copaceanu is a passionate nature lover living in the country on her dream property where she grows vegetables, lavender, and wildflowers that she shares with the wildlife they attract. When she's not in the garden, she loves spending time with her chickens and planning her next nature project. Check out her books below:

How to Grow Lavender for Fun and Profit: Lessons Learned from Planting Three Hundred Lavender Plants

How to Raise Chickens for Eggs: A Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Chickens for Nutritious, Organic Eggs at Home

Pin To Save For Later

How To Make Tomato Plants Grow Faster - 13 Easy Tips

Tuesday 20th of June 2023

[…] way to prevent tomato hornworms is through the use of companion planting. Planting basil, oregano, thyme, garlic, or marigolds near […]

19 Best Cherry Tomatoes To Grow In Your Garden

Tuesday 25th of April 2023

[…] hornworms – these can completely defoliate your plants overnight. Check out these tips for getting rid of hornworms […]

How To Grow Eggplant: An Easy And Delicious Fruit

Saturday 21st of January 2023

[…] Eggplants can also be attacked by tomato hornworms. Here’s how to get rid of tomato hornworms naturally. […]

How To Grow Borage - A Delightful Herb For Your Garden

Monday 28th of November 2022

[…] is an excellent companion plant to the above because it helps repel tomato worms and cabbage worms. The borage flowers can attract beneficial insects like bees and wasps. In […]

7 Best Companion Plants For Eggplant (And 3 To Avoid)

Monday 28th of November 2022

[…] blue flowers attract pollinators, which are essential to the fruiting of eggplants. Second, borage deters tomato hornworms and other pests that might damage eggplants and other […]