Garden pest

[mdtreehugger]

This year has been particularly challenging when it comes to insects in the garden. I have fended of the normal flea beetles from my eggplants, dealt with some serious chicken damage to my peppers, successfully harvested some squash before the squash vine borers killed the plant, and crushed all the squash bug eggs i can find. The biggest pest I have dealt with this year has been this guy 
The tomato horn worm. I usually have some of them every year, i just pluck them off and let the chickens get some bonus protein. This year has been bad, and I mean really bad. I have "harvested" near 100 of these things. Seems like every time I look I find more and more and more. They may have even killed one of my eggplants, not sure yet hoping it will leaf out and do ok. I have never found these guys on anything but dill and tomatoes before. I really don't want to spray as they are fairly easy to control easily, just a little difficult to spot among the foliage. Any advice on how to get a handle on these before they eat all of my plants?

[Brad H.]

I've heard attracting wasps can help control these. Now how to attract wasps I have no idea. I've also read that if you keep dill, basil, and marigolds around they tend to help keep them away. Seems confusing though because it sounds like you have found them on dill.

Otherwise, it sounds like a spray would be in order, and botanical Bt (Bacillus Thuringiensis), would be the correct spray to use.

[pokeyjeeper]

Wasp will come to banana peels and brown vinegar try baiting some in

[put'n the dog on]

Seven works great if you don't mind it on your maters. I usually do what you have been doing. Look for droppings and get rid of them. I cut them with pruning shears to make sure I kill them. I usually find some on Cayenne and Habenero plants each year as well.

[swampcat]

I just saw this post, thats why the response is so slow.. anyway what seems to work for me with the tomato horn worm.. Is tobacco.. I plant several plants around the tomato patch, the hornworms seem to collect on the tobacco before the tomatoes.. I don't care if they eat the tobacco as long as they stay off the tomatoes.. Sorry so late.
I might can find a few seeds for ya. if ya want to try it next time.

[mdtreehugger]

Thanks guys for all the advice. Persistent picking and disposal via chicken has worked great. I haven't seen one or any signs of one in a week now. Hopefully this was just an odd year and next year will be better.