Wednesday, October 13, 2010

The caterpillar's tomato


The season's last tomato that I grew here in North Carolina.
I sacrificed this one for the caterpillar who seemed so happy to have it. Does anyone know what kind of caterpillar this is?

16 comments:

  1. I expect it's a very, very hungry caterpillar! Sorry, couldn't resist. I haven't seen one of these before. But that may be because I'm in Australia.

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  3. Luna moth. Just a guess. Be well.

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  4. we live in raleigh, and our tomatoes had these fat little visitors too. it is a tomato hornworm. they will eat up your whole plant if you let them. we just picked the branch off that they were on, and moved them to another part of our yard :)

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  5. A very destructive worm. In Ohio we call it a tomato worm. They are very bad for your garden and will take a bite out of every tomato! They bite too and leave a large red sore. :(

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  6. Hee.. I love this! And the fact that you spotted it makes it even better. I say that is The Very Hungry and Super Lucky caterpillar. :o)

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  7. falling on the extensive scientific background i acquired in 8th grade biology class, i am going to rule this a "green" caterpillar, of the tomato eating variety.

    you're welcome!

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  8. We suggest that you should put your caterpillar in another part of the yard so that he doesn't eat anymore tomatoes. (Good thing it's your last one.) We agree that he's a lucky caterpillar to be there.

    We LOVE your blog. We've learned so many new things about you. Thanks!

    1st grade InfoTech class
    Hamilton, Michigan

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  9. It's a tomato hornworm. And they do LOVE tomatoes. You're lucky it didn't eat every one of yours (-: They turn into sphinx moths. Have fun watching it especially if it gets parasitized by a wasp. The wasp lays it's eggs in the caterpillars body!! It is almost Halloween after all.

    Love your blog! It was great to meet you at the museum in August. Many of my friends were jealous.

    Happy Fall. Paige

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  10. Tomato Hornworm. Welcome to NC and the Southeast. The land of mutant bugs! lol.

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  11. We have them here in Idaho, too. Probably the largest thing I've ever found in my garden that wasn't a pet. I trapped two of them once under a gallon can of paint. Came back later and the cans were turned over and the house was a lovely shade of green.

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  12. A friend of mine just told me about the hornworm caterpillar. Yes, they do love tomatoes...but they also turn into the beautiful hummingbird moth.

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  13. Yes they even live here in the desert of Las Vegas on my tomatoes! They are quite irresistible aren't they! Great for playing with if you are a child, or think like one! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

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  14. When I first read your post I was so excited that you choose to spare the tomato for the hungry little caterpillar! I thought, that's an act I can celebrate! But with each comment I read, I began loosing that enthusiasm and felt compassion for the little guy - especially if the laying of wasp eggs torture is true. mama. what an ill fate - in which case perhaps that sacrificed tomato is serving the exact caterpillar in need! Now it has a great chance to become the month it is destined to be and avoid the bludgeoning wasps. Let's here it for the underdog and positive endings! Thank you for sharing the tenderness that you do within your work. I am a fan.

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  15. The tomato hornworm nearly looks like a stem. I did not recognize it. Why is the tomato green? -- Ella 6 3/4 years old

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