Pages

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

Criminal Investigation


While enjoying a stroll through my garden, I stopped in my tracks when I saw...

THE EVIDENCE
(that a crime had been committed)

I franticly started searching for....

THE VICTIM
(beautiful tomato leaves cut short in the prime of their life)

So the hunt began. I knew the dark pellets that looked like tiny grenades were left behind by none other than "The Evil Tomato Hookworm." I searched and searched and stopped only to capture....

A CRIMINAL ON THE MOST WANTED LIST
(THE ARMYWORM)

Back to the hunt. Finally...

CAUGHT IN THE ACT
(Tomato Hookworm aka Hornworm)

The criminal was quickly apprehended, found guilty, and sentenced to...

DEATH BY TENNIS SHOE
(aka "The Victory Dance")


Hope this wasn't too boring. I hate most worms in my garden. Join other gardeners at the TUESDAY GARDEN PARTY and  OH, HOW MY GARDEN GROWS!

Blessings,

Debbie



17 comments:

  1. Well, that was a tiny little thing! I haven't seen a hornworm (that's what we call them) in my garden in several years, but the ones we got were always about 4" long and as big around as a dime. I sure wouldn't want to step on one! I'd always resort to cutting off the branch on which it was chewing, and dropping it into a bucket of hot soapy water.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Granny, I check with google and the hornworms and the hookworms are one and the same. I have seen them bigger in my garden. I have found 6 so far of varying sizes in my garden this year. In researching, I found out that they can grow up to 4 inches long in about 3-4 weeks. I don't even want to think about the damage one that size could do to my tomatoes!!

    ReplyDelete
  3. This was a great post--you were a good detective! I am fortunate that (so far) I have had no problems with hookworms, but a tennis shoe execution they certainly deserve!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Athena, thanks for stopping by my blog! I hope the hookworms skip your garden. They can destroy a plant in a blink of an eye!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. You know, I don't like them. Thankfully I haven't seen one up close and personal yet, but I'm glad to see the shot of your shoe and the perp because the pics on line make them look HUGE... and I was a bit freaked out by that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Glad you were able to figure out who the culprit was. Thanks for taking pictures of them so I can be on the lookout for any in my garden.
    a Latte with Ott, A

    ReplyDelete
  7. Not boring at all! I would've done the victory dance with you if I were there.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Good for you! Those 2 worms can do alot of damage if not found - then annihilated.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Happier Than a Pig in Mud - they can grow quickly in a short period of time. I think I found them early.

    Ott, A - I am glad the pics are useful. I hope you find no crime scene in your garden. I watch for the black pellets. If I find them, I hunt until I find the criminal!!

    thyme2garden - we could do EG impersonations while we dance and look for bugs!! He would be proud of me for pulling this off the bush barehanded and making great carnage!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I do the same "dance" too when I find the tomato worms- but I use it more often with slugs around here. :-) Thanks for sharing this at the Tuesday Garden Party!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Under my wife's sandals they pop like grapes!

      Delete
  11. Yikes! I hope I don't see any of those in my garden! Glad you got rid of him!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Ugg! I am so glad that I have never seen a hornworm in my garden. The worst things I have to mess with are aphids and earwigs. I am a big fan of squishing earwigs under my feet. That's the way to go!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Jami, zentmrs, and Lexa - Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving a comment. Garden pests seem to keep us on our toes! Hope the hornworm/hookworm stays away for all of you!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Reads like a suspense novel...
    I am surprised that all the bugs/worms haven't relocated to my garden. I cannot kill a thing~ something about the squish or the crunch. Why do I think I will be able to "harvest" my chickens?? My m.o. is flinging bugs into the field next to me. Ha!

    visiting from tgp

    ReplyDelete
  15. I think hornworms are kinda cute. Too bad they are so bad for the garden!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hi! I've been meaning to stop by your blog for awhile, but the garden has swallowed me up this year! Great photos, love the garden. Thankfully, I wasn't confronted with the horror-worm this year, LOL, although I saw the droppings on my zinnia leaves and saw the adult hummingbird moths they turn into, which are stunning! I hope this means they have all morphed into the moth stage and I can stop holding my breath when I peer into my tomato leaves LOL

    ReplyDelete