CLOSED: pest identification on my tomatillo plant

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knitter320 West Hempstead, NY Jul 15, 2010

I found this on my plant. Does anyone know what it is- please click on the image- this sucker is big! I'm talking several inches big!

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 15, 2010

This appears to be a tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta - see http://tinyurl.com/2cbefzq for an image and http://tinyurl.com/2e6x5rc for a fact sheet.

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knitter320 West Hempstead, NY Jul 15, 2010

thanks- how would you like to come to New York to take it off for me? It is so gross- and i just thought it was a big leaf at first- wonderful camoflouge.

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Grow_Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Jul 15, 2010

This is a dumb question but does that horn sting you? I don't touch these guys without gloves because of it. While we are on horny worms. I grew up in Ohio and we had big fat green worms also but they had bright colored nubs on there hole body. what are they? give me some pic I bet you know what they are already.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 16, 2010

The 'horn' is harmless; its' function, if any, is unclear. As for large caterpillars with 'nubs', those most likely would be one of the giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae - see http://tinyurl.com/2ebezqd for an example.

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knitter320 West Hempstead, NY Jul 16, 2010

i got these answers last night and when i went to remove it this morning it was GONE as were practically 1/4 of the leaves of the plant but none of the flowering leaves. I looked everywhere and couldnt find it. Am I supposed to be looking for its pupa or larvae now?

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melody Benton, KY(Zone 7a) Jul 16, 2010

Here you go: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/1470/

I wrote this a couple of years ago, but I think you'll find it helpful.

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Grow_Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA Jul 16, 2010

Quote from suunto :
The 'horn' is harmless; its' function, if any, is unclear. As for large caterpillars with 'nubs', those most likely would be one of the giant silk moths in the family Saturniidae - see http://tinyurl.com/2ebezqd for an example.


You hit the nail on the head. We had these instead of horn worms where I grew up. Now I have horn worms. Thanx again your Brilliant.

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