hornworms

[GrannieAnnie]

Hear that noise? It's me gnashing my teeth. The hornworms have arrived and are decimating my lovely tomato plants. They have stripped off the best leaves on huge plants in a night!
This is the first year we've had a problem. Ugh, disgusting things.

[GrannieAnnie]

[thifasmom]

:o just googled hornworm what the ?? they are massive hope i dont see them in my garden i would cry :'( if this happened to my toms. sorry to hear about your infestation will the plants recover?

[littlebabybird]

hi GrannieAnnie

they look sooo bad, 4 inches long as well thats some kind of nightmare isnt it?

i just hope we never get stuff like that over here

did you manage to get them off your plants?

lbb

[Baccy Man]

Bacillus Thuringiensis Concentrate is supposed to be very effective against hornworms. It is considered to be an organic product the only problem with it is that widespread use can damage butterfly & moth populations as any caterpillars that eat plants treated with it will die.

[Georgie]

Ooh nasty!  Here's a link to save everyone else searching:

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/dp_hfrr/extensn/problems/hornworm.htm

G x

[Rhubarb Thrasher]

I like the bit on one of the web pages that says "symptoms of attacK". Surely a 5 inch catapillar is symptom enough

[Robert_Brenchley]

I've used BT to wipe out greater waxmoth in my hives; it was extremely effective.

[thifasmom]

I've used BT to wipe out greater waxmoth in my hives; it was extremely effective.

whats BT?

[Robert_Brenchley]

Bacillus Thuringiensis, it's already been mentioned. There are different types which are specific for different pests so you need to be certain of getting the right one. I'm not sure it's available in the States; I've heard complaints from beekeepers over there that it's been withdrawn.

[Baccy Man]

BT is available in the states I know several people who have purchased it very recently to control the hornworms on their tobacco.
Here are a couple if suppliers.
http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=BOP-803&src=shoppingcom&kw=BOP-803
http://www.deerbusters.com/dee-0096.html

[asbean]

Never heard of hornworms before, I'v e just googled it and am going to have nightmares tonight.

No wonder you're tearing your hair out, GrannieAnnie  :'( :'( :'( :'(

[kitty]

OMG!
you could saddle 'em up and ride them off the lottie-hope to goodness they dont discover lincolnshire-best of luck grannieannie....
kitty
xx

[Robert_Brenchley]

BT is available in the states I know several people who have purchased it very recently to control the hornworms on their tobacco.
Here are a couple if suppliers.
http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=BOP-803&src=shoppingcom&kw=BOP-803
http://www.deerbusters.com/dee-0096.html

It may just be the form we use for waxmoth then. There's a persistent problem as beekeeping is a small industry, and there's often no money available to get products through the certification process.