Hi kids! Look what I found! He must eat at night and be well hidden during the day because this is the first I've seen of him! And he's huge!
It's going to be down in the high 50s and low 60s every night this week -- I think he's cold. Is there anything I can do? I have extra tomato plants just for this eventuality.
Suzy
Good for you! I've got some 'Wild Cherry' tomato volunteers back among my lilies that will "volunteer" to be hornworm food if I find any on my "good" tomato plants.
I don't know how cold is "too cold" for them... He might be entertaining to have as a house guest for the week, but he will eat a LOT and of course do what comes next naturally, so he'll be a bit messy, LOL.
I believe their metabolism does slow down a bit in colder weather, but I don't think 50's or 60's is that cold for them. The worse that could happen is that when it pupates into a cocoon, it may take longer to eclose into a moth. :-)
So should I pick him off and bring it inside to my new cat cage, or leave him? Oh, and I meant Tobacco Hornworm
That's up to you! I'd be more concerned about predators than the cold. If you have the room and time, I'd say bring him in and hand-raise him! They are awesome cats to observe! :-)
