|
Post by mogarden on Jul 12, 2011 18:54:01 GMT -6
Here's a picture of a worm I missed somehow, but fate caught up with him. He hasn't moved in 48 hrs, lol. I will leave him until I see the pores open up in the cocoons.
|
|
|
Post by Songbird on Jul 12, 2011 22:41:51 GMT -6
Eww! What are the white leachy things??
|
|
|
Post by mogarden on Jul 13, 2011 4:31:33 GMT -6
Those are the cocoons of the parasitic wasp. The wasps are tiny, like gnats and don't sting humans but lay their eggs on the worm. The eggs hatch and the larvae eat the inside of the worm but don't quite kill it, then they come to the surface and spin the cocoons. When they hatch out you can see tiny holes in the tips of the white cocoons. Soon after the wasps eggs are laid, the worm stops eating so you can leave them on the leaf, so the wasp life-cycle will repeat.
|
|
|
Post by waya on Apr 20, 2012 16:40:42 GMT -6
Looks like Trechegrama (sp) wasp I had last year
|
|
|
Post by trudy on Apr 20, 2012 19:26:15 GMT -6
Have any of you tried pinching (brusing) the bottom leaf steam of the tomato plant as a prevention of the horn worm? By brusing the stem its suppose to send out some kind of chemical throughout the plant that the worm don't like and keeps they off the plant. I read that somewhere a few years ago. I tried it and it did seem to help.
|
|
|
Post by trudy on Apr 20, 2012 19:27:50 GMT -6
forgot to mention, nice mators on that plant ;D
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Apr 20, 2012 21:13:05 GMT -6
I had these a few years ago Yes I realize this is last years post but I freaked out chopped off the leaf and burnt the horn worm with the wasp eggs on it .. because I thought they were horn worm eggs Will Not do that again
|
|
|
Post by mogarden on Apr 21, 2012 4:14:34 GMT -6
It has been so warm so much this year, I wonder if it will make the hornworms come out earlier. I have a big sack of BT, maybe I'll dust anyway as a preventative. My plants are only a foot tall or so except for the Early Girl. 3 out of 4 have flower buds tho.
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 21, 2012 6:26:53 GMT -6
Have any of you tried pinching (brusing) the bottom leaf steam of the tomato plant as a prevention of the horn worm? By brusing the stem its suppose to send out some kind of chemical throughout the plant that the worm don't like and keeps they off the plant. I read that somewhere a few years ago. I tried it and it did seem to help. I have heard of that Trudy...I usualy PINCH more than a leaf tho...we constantly pinch out the excess suckers..and I like brushing the plants as I walk by them to get them stinkin" Good Tip... we had more hornworms last year...than I have had since I moved here...wonder what caused that??
|
|
|
Post by trudy on Apr 21, 2012 6:43:18 GMT -6
ain't no telling Phil, just an off year maybe
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Apr 21, 2012 6:49:14 GMT -6
I have only ever seen the one in my yard .. Thanks for the bruise tip .. I will be trying that this year for sure
|
|
|
Post by Pharmer Phil on Apr 22, 2012 5:58:23 GMT -6
ain't no telling Phil, just an off year maybe They probably go in years like that...dunno, I was talking with my brother in Illinois the other night about them damn asian lady beetles... we hardly had any last year, neither did they...we both live out where we are surrounded by agriculture... maybe they go in spurts?
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Apr 22, 2012 6:01:23 GMT -6
I don't know .. but I did spy some of those Red Lily Beetles eating the hell out of my lilys again already OK I need the safest deadliest something to spray on these little 'ers
|
|
|
Post by coppice on Apr 27, 2012 6:51:18 GMT -6
Its sorta off topic, but I have noticed bug populations both peak and ebb. Prolly the most glaring is new englands gypsy moth. On a peak year they will defoliate all the deciduous trees and start on the spruces and pines.
For bigger pests (like them gypsy moths) tangle foot will keep them from climbing up trees.
I can recall one year when the catterpillars falling off trees actually sounded like rain...
|
|
|
Post by Rita on Apr 27, 2012 7:21:15 GMT -6
Tangle foot ? whats that ?
|
|
|
Post by mogarden on Apr 27, 2012 15:58:11 GMT -6
Tanglefoot is just what it sounds like. Stick stuff you paint in a band all around the tree and they can't pass, get stuck like La Brea tarpits.
|
|
|
Post by coppice on Apr 28, 2012 4:46:06 GMT -6
Here's a picture of a worm I missed somehow, but fate caught up with him. He hasn't moved in 48 hrs, lol. I will leave him until I see the pores open up in the cocoons. This photograph is so eloquent to the most perfect intervention for this particular pest. For me, finding these buggers is usually my problem. Even though they are big as a hot dog at times, their camo is about perfect. As other posters have already noted; pick and compost the ones who're still eating. Leave the ones with pupae showing.
|
|
|
Post by Doug on May 7, 2012 5:39:38 GMT -6
If I get any, I'll be sure to send dem out yer way Man those things are gross
|
|