OMG I've been finding the "frass" on my pepper plants wondering what the
hell it is. Now I know...I found one of these caterpillers a few weeks ago
on one of my tomatoes and smooshed him, but haven't seen any since then. I'm
gonna get my butt dressed and go 'piller huntin...

"SugarChile" wrote in message
...
A couple of possibilities.....birds could be pecking at them; if the
weather
has been dry, and they don't have a good source of water, they sometimes
peck at tomatoes for the moisture. A birdbath, or even a pan of water,
changed daily, can help alleviate this behavior. Another possibility is
squirrels, they sometimes bite at tomatoes, again, an alternative source
of
water may help.

Or it could be hornworms--they are large, and can eat a surprising amount
out of a tomato. They are green, and blend in fairly well, but if you
look
through the foliage you can spot them. You can usually spot their
droppings, which are small black pellets. You can handpick and destroy
them, but leave any that have what looks like grains of rice on their
backs--they are doomed by parasite wasps.
Here's more info:
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/CoopE...sts/tomato.htm
although personally I would not use the pesticides this site recommends.
If
the infestation is so severe that handpicking can't control it, I would
use
Bt.
Here's more on Bt:
http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/ent/bi.../bacteria.html
It's readily available at most nurseries, one brand name is Dipel. Do use
it with care, as it is indiscriminate in killing "good" caterpillars as
well
as bad.

Hope this helps,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


"FERRANTE" wrote in message
...
My elderly mother called me tonight and asked me to put a message on
"that thing," and that is what I am doing right now.

She has a small garden and lately, something is eating bites out of
her tomatoes. I don't think the bites are small either. Also I don't
know of any big animals that would have access to them as her garden
is fenced in, I think.

Anyone have any idea of what could be doing this and also, what
precautions could be taken to stop this?

Thanks,
Mark Ferrante