Looking west at Broken Top and The Three Sisters in the Oregon Cascades Feb. 2016


“Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.” -
John Ruskin


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Hornworm Haven...

After finding more than twenty hormworms on the tomatoes in September, I am always on the lookout for more.  Good thing I am still vigilant because they are back again.


 
But this time it is a different hornworm - not the usual green but a striking black.  As near as I can tell, this is the caterpillar form of the Pink Sphinx Moth.


 
This guy is still growing!
 


There are several other hornworms on the same tomato plant.  But they are a bit different in color.  I have to remove them - they will eat the whole plant in a matter of days.  I won't kill them - I am going to cut the branch off with them on it and transfer them to another tomato plant that is a late volunteer and won't be bearing edible fruit.  I just want to see what they do as they head to the chrysalis stage of development.  Should be fun!



3 comments:

Judy T said...

Ooo... for hornworms those are actually kind of cool looking. Great colors! I've never seen one like that.
Judy

Debbie said...

Wow. I am on a first name basis with the green tomato hornworms, I cannot tell you the name I have given them, just that we know each other. But I have never seen a hornworm like that one.

We need a REALLY close up picture I think.

Powell River Books said...

Ew - one thing about not growing tomatoes is no hornworms. but on the other hand, no fresh tomatoes either. - Margy