Handpicking the larvae from the plants and destroying them is the best control when only a few plants are being grown. Eventually the tomato hornworm caterpillars mature and leave the tomato plant to pupate in the soil. Once development as a pupa is completed, the adult moth emerges to lay eggs and start the life cycle again. These moths are often called hawk moths or hummingbird moths because of their hovering behavior near flowers. There are a few insect pests that may be found on many different types of garden plants.
Grasshoppers are general feeders and can quickly strip garden plants of foliage when numerous.
White grub larvae and adult White grubs develop in the soil and feed on root systems and seedlings of many garden vegetables. In well-established gardens, these are rare pests. But when a garden area has recently been plowed from grassy areas, white grubs already in the soil cause considerable damage during the gardening season. The adult beetle is shown in the inset photo. White grubs are the larvae of June beetles and usually require three years to complete development in the soil and emerge as adults.