[Arid_gardener] Caterpillar ID - hornworm

[Kristen's]

Mary:

What a great picture!  This is a variety of the hornworm (the caterpillar/larval form of the sphinx moth), which includes tomato and tobacco hornworms.  They can be very destructive as I have had just one strip all the leaves off of a large pepper plant over night.  

If there are just a few, you can pick them off by hand and dispose of them.  A larger infestation may call for the use of Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is a bacteria that causes a toxin the gut of the caterpillar but is harmless to other insects.  Bt can be found at most nurseries.

Good luck!

Kristen Wagner-Henshaw
Master Gardener
University of Arizona Maricopa County Cooperative Extension.

 
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <speedygoose94 at cox.net>
To: <arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu>
Sent: Sunday, September 24, 2006 7:18 AM
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Caterpillar ID


> Hello!
> 
> Lynn at Southwest Gardener thought you 
> might be able to help me. I have attached a photo of a caterpillar hanging upside down from my Mexican Honeysuckle. It must have fallen asleep while 
> munching. Ha! It is about 3" long & 1/2" in diameter. Can you identify it for me? Is this a good critter to have in my garden? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
> Thank you.
> 
> Mary DeVita 
> Anthem 
>


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


> _______________________________________________
> Arid_gardener mailing list
> Arid_gardener at CALS.arizona.edu
> http://CALS.arizona.edu/mailman2/listinfo/arid_gardener
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://CALS.arizona.edu/pipermail/arid_gardener/attachments/20060925/28b216b1/attachment.html