"Brandon Riffel" wrote in message
ups.com...
Can anybody help me figure out what is eating on my veggies? I have
Early Girl and Goliath tomatoes growing in a half barrel that have
complete limbs that are missing foliage. There are small black
dropping on the bare branches. I also noticed some bird dropping in
the soil as well. I have cages around them which would give a bird a
wonderful perch while pecking my plants.

You've got tomato hornworms, which are very well camouflaged and usually do
all their chomping at night.
I had huge infestations last year, and just pick them off rather than spray
anything.

http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4DMG/Pests/tomato.htm