| Author | Content |
Lily_love
Central, AL (Zone 7b)
June 19, 2008 12:38 PM Post #5126893
| Your informative article is likely to introduce many a gardener (likes myself) who comes to appreciate the Moths at their different stages of developement. Thank you, Jill. |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
June 19, 2008 1:03 PM Post #5126995
| You're welcome! Once you see a "hummingbird" moth working over your flowers, you just can't view hornworms the same way... :-) |
nanny_56
Putnam County, IN (Zone 5b)
June 19, 2008 7:03 PM Post #5128659
| I will pay more attention next time and re-evaluate my thinking before I take action. Those things gross me out!!!!!! |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
June 19, 2008 10:56 PM Post #5129713
| Yeah, they're a little odd... but the moths are beautiful, especially when you see them in flight! :-) |
Fitsy
Hayesville, NC (Zone 7a)
June 23, 2008 11:27 AM Post #5145941
| dMy son doesn't like to eat tomatoes, but he plants
them in hopes of seeing hornworms!
Fitsy |
SREOKC
Oklahoma City, OK
June 23, 2008 12:09 PM Post #5146158
| I must have tomato hornworms since I'm west of the MS? I do not grow vegetables, but have a problem with hornworms in my Moonflowers, which volunteer here by the zillions. (DH calls them gimson weed!) And now am I to understand the moths I infrequently see but so enjoy in the Moonies are both destroyer and pollinator? (Am I getting this right?) Thank you for all the good info! Suzanne |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
June 23, 2008 12:36 PM Post #5146231
| The moths don't destroy anything, but they'll lay the eggs that produce the hornworm phase of their lifecycle (like butterflies & caterpillars).
West of the Mississippi, I think you could be seeing either tomato or tobacco hornworms (sorry if that wasn't clear)... check their markings if you're curious. It's possible that moonflower could also be a host plant for another hornworm species, if yours doesn't look anything like either of them. |
SREOKC
Oklahoma City, OK
June 23, 2008 1:32 PM Post #5146429
| I was writing (unclearly) of the different stages of the hornworm. The moonies feed him while he's a h-worm, and then the moth pollinates the flower? Si? and Gracias! |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
June 23, 2008 2:51 PM Post #5146778
| Exactly! And with the enthusiastic way moonflower vines tend to grow, they can probably spare some foliage even to ravenous hornworm appetites. :-) |
wingz5005
Prairieville, LA
June 24, 2008 1:16 AM Post #5149967
| I had found two tobacco hornworms on my tomato plants. Rather than squish them, thought I'd try raising them. ;-) I put them in a plastic container with a couple inches of dirt in the bottom. I fed them parts of the tomato plants that needed pruning anyway due to crowding my pepper plants. They burrowed into the dirt and the first one emerged this past weekend. I wasn't expecting them until next weekend, so I had not put a stick in the container for it to climb up on and pump the fluid into the wings. Sadly the poor thing was not able to fly so it didn't survive. I'm waiting for the other one to emerge (sticks are now installed). Hope it makes it, anyhow it has been a fun experiment.
I always enjoy watching the moths when they visit my white butterfly gingers. I have even taken a hummingbird feeder down and held it while the moths feed from it. |
critterologist
Frederick, MD (Zone 6b)
June 24, 2008 1:45 AM Post #5150132
| Oh, that's cool! I didn't know they were bold enough to go for hand feeding... neat! Good luck with your second pupa! |
