Stretching To Reach The Best Parts
This is the critter most folks (including me) call a Tomato Hornworm, but according to BugGuide it is actually a Tobacco Hornworm. The white literal stripes edged with black and the curved, reddish-colored terminal horn are distinctive. Regardless, it is the larva of a Carolina Sphinx Moth and can often be found munching on members of the Nightshade family throughout most of North and South America. (We've also found them eating pepper plants in our garden.)
(The University of Florida has an excellent page comparing Tobacco and Tomato Hornworms, including adult moth images.)
(The University of Florida has an excellent page comparing Tobacco and Tomato Hornworms, including adult moth images.)
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and you have to have a good eye to see them... they blend in very nicely.
ReplyDeleteI guess I need to plant some tomatoes to get these to come into the garden. Great shot.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful capture! A pest, but got beautiful color and markings.
ReplyDelete