CLOSED: Tomato Worms need ID

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Gourd Mesilla Park, NM Jul 25, 2008

This handsome fellow was on the tomatillo plant, I hate to admit this but I couldn't tell which is the end is which, I think he got mad too when I moved the branch to take a photo.

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Gourd Mesilla Park, NM Jul 25, 2008

This one was on the tomato plant. Both were at least 4 inches long and quite fat.

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sfaller Bowling Green, KY Jul 25, 2008

What you have are tobacco hornworms (Manduca sexta), a critter common enough in KY, but maybe not in NM. Found on all sorts of Solanaceae. Easy enough to take care of if you don't want them to continue chomping down on your plants; just drop into a jar of gasoline( if you are squeamish) or just squash 'em yourself. The moth however is quite attractive, it's a hawkmoth. For more info, see Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tobacco_hornworm

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 25, 2008

I'm not sure about the first pic, but the second one looks like a Tomato Hornworm Manduca quinquemaculata

http://creatures.ifas.ufl.edu/field/hornworm.htm

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Gourd Mesilla Park, NM Jul 25, 2008

Thank you both, looks like there are one of each. Went to find them and couldn't find the second one, but did find another two smaller ones like the first one.. I am wondering where they went, could birds have eaten them? It is almost like they disappeared completely. I'll check again later today.

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 25, 2008

I've saw a bird eat a tomato hornworm once, it swooped down like a miniature hawk and snatched it up.
I was hemming and hawing about the first one, but can't see its back end. That's a great pic!

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Gourd Mesilla Park, NM Jul 25, 2008

here's another view of the first one, only which is the head on these guys.. I may have another photo bud don't know if I got both ends in the pic.

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Gourd Mesilla Park, NM Jul 25, 2008

maybe this one..so the horn is the end/tail? Doesn't he look mad?

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claypa West Pottsgrove, PA(Zone 6b) Jul 25, 2008

I think he looks hungry! - yes, the horn is the tail end. It does look like you have one of each there.

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