A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 What IS this disgusting slug-like thing?

It's eating my tomato plants! It's at least 4 inches long, and with that angry red tail, it's really creeping me out. Is it going to attack me while I'm sleeping? And what do I do about it? It surely has friends....

Ugh!! I found one too!! Just today! Actually, I haven't spotted the lil' bugger yet but I spotted some half eaten tomatoes. It's a tomato hornworm. Get it off there and kill it!! I get the heebie jeebies with those things. All day long today, I've felt as though it was crawling on me....ick! I'm on my way outside to find it! The longer it's left there, the more babies it will have..hence more worms!! Good luck to you...and wish me luck..I'm on my way to a worm hunt!

Meet Mr. Tomato Hornworn. I wouldn't call him slug-like, but he would love to eat your tomato plants. Squish him or feed him to some chickens...they love Hormworms. You might want to look into some Dipel Dust if you see more of them...a safe, natural product that kills only catterpillars. Meanwhile, it's more creepy looking than anything, you can sleep safely, except for worrying about your tomatoes. They don't bite or sting.

Great pics, btw.

Ok, he's gone, along with two of his friends. I think they were planning to eat my tomato plants as well as start moving funds around in my 401k. It's war.

I hope that does it, but if not, I'll look into the Dipel Dust.

Thanks!

http://www.vegedge.umn.edu/vegpest/hornworm.htm

Look at the cool moth these guys turn into.....maybe makes you think twice about killing them?

Persimmon! *drool* Nice tomato varieties! but that closeup photo made me run away.

Man those things just freak me out. Never seen one and hopefully I never do.

BTW, loveapples welcome! Great varieties your growing there! Anything ripened yet?

If it's a disgusting slug-like thing, It's gotta be......ME!

If it's you...where are you hiding?? Because I still haven't found that disgusting slug(s)!!

"Yoo..hoo...oh Thorny...come out, come out whereever you are...I have chocolate...."

Found my fourth hornworm last night! Two have been covered and condemned by wasp larvae and the other two met their demise with my pruners. Man those things are hideously ugly!

Oh man...that grosses me out. If and when I do find them..I don't know what I will do with them. I can just see myself running at the first sight of them. Not funny! Yuck!

LOL. I wouldn't do that either. I have no problem pinching most bugs in my finger tips, but it's just not gonna happen with these mutants. And to think, I just adored seeing those hummingbird moths around my yard last year. This year they're gonna get wacked with my son's tennis racquet when I see them.

You get 'em John!! Show 'em who's boss!

I can't help but picture you swinging that racquet and missing...over and over again...
sorry John..

Thank you Christina. I feel much better now.

Your welcome.

(Aww..you know I love ya! )

I forgot to mention the part about you running in circles all around your yard while you're swinging...becoming tired and dizzy and finally spinning yourself to the ground.

Okay...my turn..lemme have it.

....well, I could bring up the part about the kiddie pool. :p

Well..I'm on my way outside to continue this worm war. Wish me luck. I think I'll put them in a jar, name them and they can be my new pets.

Just thought of something, if this slug ends up being Thornius..I'm going to need an awfully big jar!!
Oh this will be so much fun. I can invite all the neighbourhood kids over and we can make faces at him through the glass.

(Don't worry Thorny, we'll throw you saw raw meat from time to time..that is..if you're real good.)

John & Christina I can't believe the two of you. I had green horn worms earlier and I had no problem squishing them to death or feeding them to the pet rooster.

Comfrey, the black poop is exactly what led me to find the one yesterday.

Oh..I was just kidding..they don't bother me at all. I was just trying to make John feel better.

I KNEW it! :p

Christina, you are AWEFUL! Karma will get you, you know!
I have, however, been wondering where Thorny has been lately!
BTW, John, I don't think they're the same as hummingbird moths...are they? I think they're luna moths...could be wrong.