Tomato hornworm

Look what I found in the garden! A tomato hornworm, but not just any old worm. This one has been taken over by parasitic wasps. They have eaten the worm's insides and now are pupating, preparing to emerge and start a new generation.

When you find a tomato hornworm with these rice like cocoons on the back, don't kill it, it's already dead (in a couple days) and has stopped feeding.

Letting it go will pepetuate the parasitic wasps who hopefully will return year after year. This is the second consecutive year that I've found a tomato hornworm in this condition. Click the "Read More" button for more information.

One of the benefits of being organic is letting nature do the work. Not only is my garden organic, I don't spray anything at all, because I don't have to. The garden takes care of itself and that's fine with me. I have things that fail, but that's part of gardening, sometimes plants die.

Let the good bugs eat the bad ones and they'll do a pretty good job keeping the garden growing.