Garden tomato worms

[Paloma]

Would it be ok to feed the chameleons or any of my other bug eating reptiles some tomato worms? I was watering my small gardens this morning and saw at least 5 or so tomato worms. I have fed them all hornworms before I purchased at Repticon but have never had tomato worms till this year. I did scroll down but I guess not far enough as I did not see the answer to this question. Thanks so much in advance.

 

[MelissaB]

No, you can't feed them to your reptiles because they've been eating the tomato leaves. Something in the leaves makes them toxic.

 

[junglefries]

You can breed'em.

 

[Carlton]

Would it be ok to feed the chameleons or any of my other bug eating reptiles some tomato worms? I was watering my small gardens this morning and saw at least 5 or so tomato worms. I have fed them all hornworms before I purchased at Repticon but have never had tomato worms till this year. I did scroll down but I guess not far enough as I did not see the answer to this question. Thanks so much in advance.

Tomato hornworms that have been eating the leaves/stems of tomato plants can't be used safely. Tomatos are in the nightshade plant family and contain toxins. Tomato hornworms raised on commercial chow or tomato FRUIT are safe to use.

 

[Paloma]

Thank you all so much I am glad I asked. I will now figure out how to get rid of them as the tomatoes and plants in general are doing so well this year.

 

[MelissaB]

Thank you all so much I am glad I asked. I will now figure out how to get rid of them as the tomatoes and plants in general are doing so well this year.

Watch for any with white egg looking growths on their backs. If you see it, you'll never forget it. They look really gross. If you find them with those things on them, leave them in your garden. The white things are larvae of parasitic wasps. I haven't seen any hornworms yet this year, and last year there were very few. The wasps really kicked their butts.

 

[reptileguy112]

Buy some dillweed seeds and grow the plants. They will attract the parasitic wasps and those will eat the worms.

 

[JlaPinska]

i would breed the worms. the next round of babies would be good for feeding to your cham. theres a whole thread on it somewhere in this forum

 

[ridgebax1]

It is pretty easy to allow the worms to pupate. I currently have 2 newly hatched sphinx moths and about a dozen more to come.

 

[Warbornovo16]

How do I start a forum?