Is there an easy way to spot tomato worms?

[Suzanne D.]

I just found two of my tomato plants nibbled down quite a bit. I suspect tomato worms. We had these two years ago, but didn't seem to have a problem last year.

Trouble is, our vines are up to nine feet tall, and bushy as all get out. I have searched in them for quite a while (and offered the kids a dollar for each worm found!), and can't seem to spot any. I am pretty sure they are there, but they are eluding me.

Is there some way to make it easier to find tomato worms? Do they jitter if your spray them, or glow under a black light, or turn color when you heat them, or ANYTHING that would make it a little easier to find them? (I am suspecting that the answer is NO, but maybe there's someone with some freak tip out there who can help!)

--S.

[Boron Elgar]

You can search leaves for droppings, which are black and abundant if the worms are there. Then just start looking up above the leaves where the droppings are.

They are wonderfully camouflaged, but I have my best hunting in the morning.

Of course, it might be something else, too. Do you get Japanese beetles in your area?

Boron

[Frank]

In my experience, when there is even one worm there, top leaves start to rapidly dissappear. I was fortunate in spotting one early before he grew and got started but it was dumb luck as I was not looking. I use an innocous vegetable insecticide and have not had further problems

[Suzanne D.]

I don't know about Japanese beetles, but I'm pretty sure it is tomato worms due to the same snipping patterns as the last time (leaves at the top of the plant eaten). I'll look for droppings; thanks.

--S.

[v_coerulea]

The droppings are characteristic and look like tiny hand grenades. There's no mistaking them. Gary