Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Marc St Louis on August 06, 2015, 07:48:04 pm
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I went outside the other day and saw this on the ground. I've seen Green Caterpillars before but nothing this size. This thing was fully 1/2" in diameter and at least 3" long when on the move
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Luna?
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I hope you built a fence around it until you find out what it is. I could be the first of some new God-awful bug to invade the country. :)
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Sleek.....I believe your right...Luna moth
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No I don't think it is the Luna Moth. I did a search and it looks more like the Banded Sphinx. Here's another pic
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Looks like a tomato worm to me! Sphinx moth.
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I thought the deer were eating my tomato plants, I found one of those caterpillars on the plant so I knew it wasn't a deer.
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Can confirm, that caterpillar is not a deer.
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Bass bait?
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Curious. I've never seen anything eat Tomatoes up here
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Yep....tomato eatin machine right there! Hard to see on the plant but they leave unmistakable scat trail, lol.... Brian
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They will devour a mater plant in short order. Dad used to walk around the garden with two fist sized rocks. He'd just smash them between the rocks and move along. I loved it when I was 5!
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They sell them at pet stores as reptile food as well. I didn't know what they turned into until about a year ago. They get quite big.
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We used to call them tobacco worms as we would find them on the tobacco stalks, when topping the tobacco in the evening dusk lite the moths would come out and fly around made you duck once or twice. Big moth's, we would dare each other to bite the heads of the caterpillars. Tasted like tobacco.
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To clarify, Slugs will eat Tomatoes but only the fruit, the plant itself is safe.
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I believe that is the tobacco hornworm. The tomato hornworm is a little different but their is not a dimes difference between them. Same in most ways but a difference in 5 spots as compared to 6 on the adult. Both will eat your tomato plants the same.
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This one didn't have any spots at all.
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The spots are on the adult. Their are differences in the worm also. I personally think the tomato hornworm is much more striking in appearance.
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Yep everybody already said it is a plant eating machine. We have another one down here that looks just like it with horns that will light your butt up if you rub against it. We call them Saddlebacks.
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I looked up both of those caterpillars and this one did not look quite like them. It was smooth from one end to the other with no horn. The Green variation of the Banded Sphinx is more like what it looked like but still not quite the same
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Marc...
The more I look at it ..it looks like a bastard banded Sphinx................
DBar
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Oh boy, that bastard variety is bad news. Man I tell ya, watch out for them!
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I am not that familiar with the life cycle but it could be pupating. I could not see the legs but it had that look to me. Inmature insects do some weird stuff and that one does go in the ground to spend the winter. that stage would look different.
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Lift either foot, above caterpillar, bring foot down, quickly, and with force. If done properly, there will be a green, slime pile. No Caterpillar. Safe plants. Oh, by the way, tomato plants contain an alkali poison. Which is why for a long time, people thought tomatoes were poisonous. Just the plant, not the fruit. Those little pillars, make good fish bait.
And Eddy is absolute correct about those saddle backs! When I was a kid, a neighbor had a big Arica palm, Betal palm if you wish, anyway, it was loaded with them! Their sting, is like a hot wire being pressed against you! A Bic lighter is great for them. ;) A bar b que lighter is even better! 8)
Wayne
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It did look like it was trying to burrow underground.
I'm unwilling to kill anything that isn't trying to feed on me or I'm not willing to eat.
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If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.
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I knew them as tomatoes horn worms. Did it have a spike on its head? Or is this a different one?
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If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.
Lots and lots of garlic :P :P
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If you eat it, Marc, cook crispy with garlic and sprinkle a little of lime juice.
That's ok Eddie. As I said " I'm not willing to eat". I tell you what though, I'll cook it up and send it down to you :)
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Not sure if it will clear Customs. ;D
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I'll just declare it as "Tasty Treats" ;)
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Send it on, Brother, I'm sure you haven't heard about the June Bug story from the Classic 8)
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I'm sure I have Eddie. I have my own stories but I'll keep those to myself ;)
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Save it in the fridge, just was told this morning I'm heading to Canada for a few days. I don't know which Providence yet. Probably Alberta, though.
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I almost bumped into this guy today. Glad I noticed it first. Some of the worst stings I've ever had were from caterpillars. This one looks particularly painful. I relocated him a safe distance away.
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Mobile%20Uploads/20150812_184540.jpg)
(http://i141.photobucket.com/albums/r55/clintanders/Mobile%20Uploads/20150812_211421.png.jpeg)
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That sucker just looks mean!
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I am so glad we don't have stuff like that up here
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looks like our green ones, and boy do they hurt.
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What does that thing grow into?
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Question mark butterfly
http://entnemdept.ufl.edu/creatures/bfly/bfly2/question_mark.htm
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I am not sure but probably a pretty normal looking moth.