I grew tomatoes in Oregon for 25 years and had never heard of these pests or ever seen one. I moved to southern Utah a few years ago and have witnessed the devastation these worms can do to a plant in 1 day. They blend in perfectly with their color. I do hand pick them off because I only have 10 or so plants. I've tried the black light at night but I haven't found that the light actually makes them stand out or glow. The only way I've been able to really find them is to follow their path of destruction. I look for the damage to the plant and the path of their droppings. They are very difficult to see so when you're looking in the right area from the evidence, focus on movement. I have used spray and it did keep them away for a few months but I worry about eating the tomatoes. That defeats the whole purpose of me growing my own food.
I grew tomatoes in Oregon for 25 years and had never heard of these pests or ever seen one. I moved to southern Utah a few years ago and have witnessed the devastation these worms can do to a plant in 1 day. They blend in perfectly with their color. I do hand pick them off because I only have 10 or so plants. I've tried the black light at night but I haven't found that the light actually makes them stand out or glow. The only way I've been able to really find them is to follow their path of destruction. I look for the damage to the plant and the path of their droppings. They are very difficult to see so when you're looking in the right area from the evidence, focus on movement. I have used spray and it did keep them away for a few months but I worry about eating the tomatoes. That defeats the whole purpose of me growing my own food.