Probably tomato hornworms. Do they have a 'horn' on their rear? The white sacs are egg sacs from a predatory wasp - that is good - will destroy the horn worms. The black stuff are the droppings of the worms. Best bet - the ones with the white sacs take off the plants and deposit them somewhere where the white sacs can mature - will help control hornworms in later seasons. The ones without the white sacs destroy. Easiest method - if you can do it - is to snip them in half with scissors (dedicated garden scissors - don't use the best dressmaking/embroidered scissors). JonquilJan Learn something new every day As long as you are learning, you are living When you stop learning, you start dying ----- Original Message ----- From: <tfarmer@att.net> To: <tomato@GlobalGarden.com> Sent: Monday, September 11, 2000 1:58 PM > I have some tomato plants in a planter on the deck. I > noticed 2 caterpillars on them. They are large (about 2 > inches long) green with white sacks attached all over > their bodies. I noticed black droppings on the deck > under these bugs. The plant is producing plenty of > fruit but seem a little wilted but I think that is more > a factor of water (they dry out quickly in the planters) > I have one plant out in the yard that apparently does > not have any of these pests on there yet and it is doing > fine. Anyone know what these are? Can I just kill them > and be done with it or are more steps needed? > > Tom > St. Louis, MO >