The Tomato Worm has also been memorialized in the nicknaming of the space suit, the Tomato Worm suit.

James said he’d read that spraying the tomato plants with water made the worms begin to gyrate and dance around, making them easier to spot. We went back into the kitchen for dessert rhubarb pie and discussed the worms that, in their jar, were serving as a centerpiece. With a life like that to which to look forward, you may not want to begrudge the Tomato Worm its lunch of your tomato leaves, but if you do wish to get rid of Tomato Worms in your garden, it’s best to handpick them. But our friend’s experience with horn worms wasn’t so bad.

Some wasps, for example, lay their eggs on the Tomato Worm, and when the eggs hatch the larva feed on the Tomato Worm, cocoon in the still living Tomato Worm (you can see the cocoons projecting out of its body), and then kill it once hatched. There are two main garden pest species, tomato hornworms, and tobacco hornworms, which can be found in most regions of the U.S. Many parasitic insects, including certain wasps, invade the Tomato Worm and use its flesh as nourishment for themselves and their offspring. What Are Hornworms If you’ve ever grown tomatoes, chances are good that you’ve dealt with these green caterpillar pests. While these bright, friendly worms can be a bit of a nuisance as they munch through your tomato or other vegetable blossoms and leaves, they are more victim than bad guy. The Tomato Worm gets its “Hornworm” monicker from the fact that it has what appears to be a small red horn sticking out of its tail end.

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