Can't tell if these are eggs or droppings...but either way can anyone tell me what they are and how to get rid of it (organically if possible). I haven't seen any evidence of bug damage yet except a few ants around the stem.
https://I.imgur.com/klHdBSq.jpg
https://I.imgur.com/EIjP6d4.jpg
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SFloridaGardener
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rainbowgardener
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It's caterpillar poops. I think in the bottom photo you got a picture of the culprit - tomato hornworm. Follow that thorn looking thing down to its origin. Then follow along right and down, that is its body, very slightly lighter green. They are well camouflaged . If you haven't seen any damage yet, you soon will. They are voracious eaters.
Easiest is just to hand pick. They rely on the camouflage and hold still.
Easiest is just to hand pick. They rely on the camouflage and hold still.
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SFloridaGardener
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can't believe I missed that in the photo lol-
rainbowgardener
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I thought it was pretty funny that you actually had a picture of your caterpillar! 
They do start out small. I've never seen them get "the size of your hand," but maybe your thumb or even index finger.
In the first picture I can see some of the circles he's bitten out of leaves.
It won't help for this year, but in the long run, what you want is to have your garden set up to attract predators for things like that.
If you ever see one looking like this:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2428/3889 ... f2c89c.jpg
with lots of little white cocoons all over its back, leave it alone. That one has been parasitized by braconid wasps (tiny, stingless) and is dying. You can attract the braconids into your garden by planting the flowers with nectar in tiny florets that the adult wasps like (t is the larvae that colonize the caterpillar).
This includes all the things in the carrot family when allowed to flower--carrots, dill, parsley, caraway, coriander, etc--as well as yarrow, tansy, marigolds, sweet alyssum, and others.
They do start out small. I've never seen them get "the size of your hand," but maybe your thumb or even index finger. In the first picture I can see some of the circles he's bitten out of leaves.
It won't help for this year, but in the long run, what you want is to have your garden set up to attract predators for things like that.
If you ever see one looking like this:
https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2428/3889 ... f2c89c.jpg
with lots of little white cocoons all over its back, leave it alone. That one has been parasitized by braconid wasps (tiny, stingless) and is dying. You can attract the braconids into your garden by planting the flowers with nectar in tiny florets that the adult wasps like (t is the larvae that colonize the caterpillar).
This includes all the things in the carrot family when allowed to flower--carrots, dill, parsley, caraway, coriander, etc--as well as yarrow, tansy, marigolds, sweet alyssum, and others.
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rainbowgardener
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Looking at it again, both pictures show circular areas bitten out of leaves.
Did you go back and find your hornworm?
Look carefully. If you have one, it is likely there is more than one. For such large creatures, they can be amazingly hard to spot; they blend in so well. But the poops are a clue. Look for the black frass (droppings) and there is likely to be a caterpillar in the neighborhood somewhere....
Did you go back and find your hornworm?
Look carefully. If you have one, it is likely there is more than one. For such large creatures, they can be amazingly hard to spot; they blend in so well. But the poops are a clue. Look for the black frass (droppings) and there is likely to be a caterpillar in the neighborhood somewhere....
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SFloridaGardener
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SFloridaGardener
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So I had a busy weekend and wasn't abe to keep up the bug patrol for a few days...went outside today to find this monster had eaten several entire branches! There was so much caterpillar poop on the patio I had to hose it off!!
https://I.imgur.com/QGhl55j.jpg
https://I.imgur.com/rUlDIy3.jpg
https://I.imgur.com/QGhl55j.jpg
https://I.imgur.com/rUlDIy3.jpg
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ButterflyLady29
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