>Are there any precautions one can >take against them? --- Regards, Cameron. There is/was an article about hornworm and tobacco at NCSU. The results of a study shows that if one feeds plants a Nitrogen level that is just barely above the plant needs, it will greatly reduce hornworm populations.. IIRC tobacco was N = 2.5, they fed N = 3. NMSU says ideal N for chiles is 1.5. In my garden, my plants are fertilized with compost and composted manure.. In the last 8 years, I have found one hornworm.. L.B.