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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The blooms also attract the parasitoid wasp that lays its eggs on tomato hornworms. 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. 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. 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). Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024 If possible, hand-pick pests such as tomato hornworms, in your vegetable garden. Arricca Elin Sansone, Country Living, 31 July 2023 White, green and yellow striped tomato hornworms are the caterpillars of sphinx moths! Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 East of Cascades: Check for tomato hornworm. oregonlive, 1 Aug. 2022 What is a tomato hornworm? Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 June 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of tomato hornworm was in 1921

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 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on tomato hornworm

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!