Green Tomato Worms - Ask Extension
I have these green worms for the 1st time. On-line DYI suggests I spray a mixture of Castile soap and water.
1. Anything else that might be effecti...
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Green Tomato Worms #910303
Asked July 17, 2025, 8:32 PM EDT
I have these green worms for the 1st time. On-line DYI suggests I spray a mixture of Castile soap and water.
1. Anything else that might be effective?
2. Can I prepare the soil before planting to prevent these worms?
Thanks and best,
L. A. McElwee
Franklin County Ohio
Expert Response
Hello,
Could you send a picture of the worms? I'd like to give you the correct information according to the specific worms that you're seeing on your plants. The worms are most probably caterpillars or larvae which have hatched from eggs laid by a moth. These caterpillars will eventually develop into moths.
Two such common caterpillar pests of tomatoes are the Tobacco and Tomato hornworm. I've listed articles below about these hornworms. If these are the worms, or caterpillars, then the articles describe the best options for you. If they aren't hornworms, then please send a picture and I will investigate further and give you more ideas for management.
If sending a picture is not possible, you could send a detailed description of the pest and other information such as where it's found on the plant, its color, size, markings, damage to the plant, etc.
As with all vegetable and even flower pests, the most effective management option is to remove them by hand, drop them into soapy water and dispose of them. It's important to look carefully at the plant to find all the caterpillars in order to fully eradicate the problem.
Nature can also help eliminate these pests and control their populations. Beneficial insects and birds may eat the eggs and larvae. Parasitoid wasps will lay their eggs in the hornworm and these larvae will eat the caterpillar from the inside out.
If the hornworms are not your pests, please write back and send a picture and more information about them. Even if it is hornworms, I would like to know if that is what you're seeing and perhaps answer more questions that you may have about them.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-08-07-hornworm-caterpillars-tomatoes
https://vegento.russell.wisc.edu/pests/hornworms/
https://extension.psu.edu/keep-an-eye-out-for-hornworms
Could you send a picture of the worms? I'd like to give you the correct information according to the specific worms that you're seeing on your plants. The worms are most probably caterpillars or larvae which have hatched from eggs laid by a moth. These caterpillars will eventually develop into moths.
Two such common caterpillar pests of tomatoes are the Tobacco and Tomato hornworm. I've listed articles below about these hornworms. If these are the worms, or caterpillars, then the articles describe the best options for you. If they aren't hornworms, then please send a picture and I will investigate further and give you more ideas for management.
If sending a picture is not possible, you could send a detailed description of the pest and other information such as where it's found on the plant, its color, size, markings, damage to the plant, etc.
As with all vegetable and even flower pests, the most effective management option is to remove them by hand, drop them into soapy water and dispose of them. It's important to look carefully at the plant to find all the caterpillars in order to fully eradicate the problem.
Nature can also help eliminate these pests and control their populations. Beneficial insects and birds may eat the eggs and larvae. Parasitoid wasps will lay their eggs in the hornworm and these larvae will eat the caterpillar from the inside out.
If the hornworms are not your pests, please write back and send a picture and more information about them. Even if it is hornworms, I would like to know if that is what you're seeing and perhaps answer more questions that you may have about them.
Thanks for asking Ask Extension.
Betsy B. - MGV
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2020-08-07-hornworm-caterpillars-tomatoes
https://vegento.russell.wisc.edu/pests/hornworms/
https://extension.psu.edu/keep-an-eye-out-for-hornworms
