Carrie sent me a picture of a Tomato Hawk worm that they found wandering around on their front porch. He must have been in a garden that was harvested and uprooted for the fall because he is obviously well fed. They still had some tomato plants so they gave him a new home.
“The tomato hornworm, Manduca quinquemaculata, is the larva of a sphinx moth, also known as a hawk moth. Caterpillars of the tomato hornworm grow up to four inches in length, then form a dark brown pupa in the soil. During this resting stage the larva transforms into an adult moth. The life cycle from egg to adult can occur in less than two months during the summer but in winter the pupae remain in the soil for several months. The adult moth, which has a wingspan over four inches and a body length of about 2″, is a strong flier and is sometimes mistaken for a hummingbird. It may be seen at dusk hovering over flowers and sucking nectar. The female moth mates then lays eggs on tomato plants.”
It will turn into a Sphinx Moth (also called Hawk Moth). If the size of the worm determines the size of the moth, it’s going to be a big one.
I’m glad Carrie and David like insects and saved this one.