Good Guy or Bad Guy?

PeggyB · Post by **PeggyB** » Sep 07, 2005 12:22 pm

I found this chubby critter happily munching away this morning. Any idea what it is and if it's good or bad?

pauhaus · Post by **pauhaus** » Sep 07, 2005 12:40 pm

Hi Peggy. Looks like a tomato hornworm. Here's a little link:

http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/an ... /2862.html

Annie · Post by **Annie** » Sep 07, 2005 12:54 pm

We always called them tomato worms

They eat tomato plants I know.

Post by **Chris_W** » Sep 07, 2005 1:34 pm

Bad guy as a caterpillar, but they are cool to watch when they grow up. They turn into sphinx moths aka hawk moths aka hummingbird moths.

When we grow tomatoes we will plant an extra section for these guys. If we find them we move them to the correct area to feed on.

pauhaus · Post by **pauhaus** » Sep 07, 2005 1:58 pm

I don't know how you did it Chris, but those are really great shots! Thanks for sharing.

Deb118 · Post by **Deb118** » Sep 07, 2005 2:06 pm

Those rotten little b@$t@rds turn into humming bird moths?????

LucyGoose · Post by **LucyGoose** » Sep 07, 2005 3:20 pm

Wow Peggy! I haven't seen one of those yet this year, but have in the past....So, what did you do with it? Or did you do anything?

Chris, excellent pictures!! I remember the first time I saw one of those sphinx moths....I had you guys here ID it.....Thanks again for those cool pictures of them!

Here's a link for ya Peggy!

http://www.birds-n-garden.com/white-lin ... moths.html

PeggyB · Post by **PeggyB** » Sep 07, 2005 7:22 pm

Wowzers!

You guys are GREAT, thanks!
Chris, your pics are super!

I'm thinking since this guy was feeding on a Nicotiana Sylvestris he is probably a Tobacco Horn Worm.
The link Paul provided said "they are a related species which devour tobacco plants."

Lucy, I left him munching away!

Old earth dog · Post by **Old earth dog** » Sep 07, 2005 10:07 pm

It is always a toss up on what to do, knowing they are the larva of the Hummer moth. Chris's idea of growing extra plants and moving them is so simple it's brilliant.

Great pics!

wishiwere · Post by **wishiwere** » Sep 08, 2005 6:30 am

Great shots, all of you! Wheweee! Yes, too bad they eat their way in to adult beauties!