Tomato Worm (Noun)
Meaning
Large green white-striped hawkmoth larva that feeds on tobacco and related plants; similar to tomato hornworm.
Classification
Nouns denoting animals.
Examples
- The tomato worm is a common pest in gardens, particularly those with tobacco and tomato plants, and can cause significant damage with its voracious appetite.
- Farmers often consider the tomato worm a nuisance due to its ability to quickly devastate their crops, especially during peak growing seasons.
- In its caterpillar stage, the tobacco hornworm is sometimes confused with the tomato worm, though the two are similar but distinct species.
- Farm technicians recommend sprinkling Bt powder around the base of plants to control the spread of the tomato worm, which can otherwise multiply rapidly.
- Given the similarity between the two larvae, many gardeners incorrectly refer to the tobacco hornworm as the tomato worm, particularly when initially spotting these large, striped creatures.