tomato caterpillars-help what are they

[bbrandonsmom]

I have no idea what these are. I went to check my plants after days of storming and found my one tomato plant half eaten by these tiny caterpillars. They must have only hatched in the past few days. They are green with orange heads and if they fall they are attached by silk like strings to the plant. What are they? I can't find a photo of hornworms that are tiny, so I don't know if they lose the orange head as they grow or not. What I'm assuming to be the eggs are black. They ate my whole plant practically. I just put a bunch of seedlings in the ground too.
What can I do to protect them if they are not hornworms? Dust with baby powder (that's what my dad did when I was a kid), or we have this Neem oil that's safe for veggies.

[annekevdbroek]

It sounds like hornworms, aside from the orange head. Maybe that is what the juviniles look like? Bt will take care of catapillars and is considered safe and organic. Don't use it on plants that beneficials like Monarch catapillars like to eat, though. YOu can also handpick them and throw them in a bucket of water to kill them.


Blech!

[serenetabbie]

Hmmm... could it be sawflies? I have no idea if they eat tomatoes, but they love roses.

[bbrandonsmom]

That's it! They eat all but the veins of the leaves. Will have to read more about them. Thanks.