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tomato hornworm
noun
: a North American hawk moth (Manduca quinquemaculata) whose green larva is a hornworm feeding on leaves of plants of the nightshade family and especially tobacco and tomato
Examples of tomato hornworm in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
These annuals bloom in mid-spring through late summer and deter aphids, whiteflies and tomato hornworms.
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Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Apr. 2024
The blooms also attract the parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs on tomato hornworms.
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 June 2024
Fortunately, tomato hornworms can be easily plucked off a plant and dropped into soapy water to kill them.
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Kylie Martin, Detroit Free Press, 21 June 2024
On the pedestal and swarmed by blue tomato hornworms, a mix of the Neapolitan purveyors Sabatino Abagnale’s Miracolo di San Gennaro tomatoes and Pasquale Imperato’s Pomodorini del Piennolo del Vesuvio, imported by Gustiamo in the Bronx.Credit...Photograph by Anthony Cotsifas.
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Ligaya Mishan Anthony Cotsifas Emily Woo Zeller Tanya Pérez Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 13 May 2024
Even better, these heat-loving annuals are known for repelling both tiny pests (like whiteflies, tomato hornworms, cabbage worms, and thrips) and large pests (like deer).
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Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024
If possible, hand-pick pests such as tomato hornworms, in your vegetable garden.
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Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 31 July 2023
White, green and yellow striped tomato hornworms are the caterpillars of sphinx moths!
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Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023
East of Cascades: Check for tomato hornworm.
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oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022
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Word History
First Known Use
1921, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near tomato hornworm
Cite this Entry
“Tomato hornworm.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tomato%20hornworm. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
More from Merriam-Webster on tomato hornworm
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tomato hornworm
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