Question: Our tomato leaves are being stripped, but we can’t find any signs of an insect. What type of pest does that?

Answer: Tomato hornworm is almost always the culprit. You’re going to be embarrassed when you finally do find the caterpillar. It’s probably as big as your finger, but it’s bright green, just like the tomato stems and leaves, so it’s almost impossible to see. For the record, its large horn is actually harmless. Hand-pick the worms when you do find them. Labeled insecticidal dust or “Bt” can also help if the worms are still active.

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