Hornworm invasion

West Plains gardener Wes Moore rarely gets horn worms among his tomato plants, but this summer was an exception. Moore’s wife Kari describes her husband’s garden as, “exceptional.”

 

Moore likes to grow all types of tomatoes, but his favorites are Better Boy and German Johnson. In a yellow fruit, he likes the Pineapple variety. 

 

This year, his tomato garden had an unwelcome guest – hornworms. 

 

“This is the first year I’ve gotten them in many years,” Moore said. 

 

With the hornworms this year came beneficial braconid wasps, a parasitic species that lay eggs on the hornworms, stopping the worms’ constant chewing and damage. 

 

Moore always lets the infected hornworms stay on plants, but he picks off and squishes the healthy worms. 

 

Do you have a garden story to share? We want to feature you in an upcoming issue of Howell County News. Contact editor@howellcountynews.com or call 417-252-2123. 

 

And don’t forget: the News is hosting a contest for the biggest produce from Howell County’s gardens. Bring your biggest and best yield to the Bear City Fall Festival on October 3 in Willow Springs.