Tomato hornworm

What does Tomato hornworm look like?

A large green caterpillar up to 10 cm with a row of white V-shaped marks along each side and a single dark horn at the rear end.

Is Tomato hornworm dangerous?

Harmless to handle — the 'horn' is soft and can't sting. It can strip tomato and pepper plants very quickly, though.

Commonly confused with

• Tobacco hornworm: red horn and white diagonal stripes (not V's)

What should I do about Tomato hornworm?

Pick them off by hand. Leave any covered in small white rice-like cocoons — those are parasitic wasps that will control more hornworms.