I was digging up some ground the other day and this caught my eye as I was shoveling. I have a feeling it is from a Tomato Horn Worm as I have never seen anything else this large around my garden. It is alive and moving its tail end in circles every once in a while.
Whatever it is, what is the best thing for me to do with it? Put it back out in the weather or keep it in the house in this jar and cover the cocoon with dirt/grass until it hatches? I really want it to survive.
This does indeed appear to be a pupa of a sphinx moth in the genus Manduca, that includes tomato and tobacco hornworms - see http://tinyurl.com/yb9nago for detailed information. You might try placing it in a large lidded jar with a few inches of loose soil, and keep it in an unheated area of the house (or even in the refrigerator) until reliably warm spring weather arrives. Then place the jar in a sheltered outside area and observe daily for signs of emergence. The jar lid should be tight enough to maintain a relatively high level of humidity (to prevent desiccation) while still allowing a little air to enter.
This does indeed appear to be a pupa of a sphinx moth in the genus Manduca, that includes tomato and tobacco hornworms - see http://tinyurl.com/yb9nago for detailed information. You might try placing it in a large lidded jar with a few inches of loose soil, and keep it in an unheated area of the house (or even in the refrigerator) until reliably warm spring weather arrives. Then place the jar in a sheltered outside area and observe daily for signs of emergence. The jar lid should be tight enough to maintain a relatively high level of humidity (to prevent desiccation) while still allowing a little air to enter.
