CLOSED: Large Green Catapillar with thin white cross stripes

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WisJones Eagle, WI Jul 30, 2008

Its the last week of July in Wisconsin and the tops of my tomato plants are being chewed off! I found the culprit and need to identify it as friend or foe. The photo has 2 large and one very small insect in a 3lb coffee can.

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suunto Sinks Grove, WV Jul 30, 2008

These appear to be tobacco hornworms, Manduca sexta (Lepidoptera: Sphingidae). They and their close relative, the tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata) look much alike and have similar tastes in vegetation - see http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/4dmg/Pests/tomato.htm
Because of their large size, they can do considerable damage in a short time.

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fly_girl The Woodlands, TX(Zone 8b) Jul 30, 2008

Wis, they become beautiful moths. Since they are so big you could put them away from your tomato plants and they should pupate...that way you wouldn't have to kill them and they would stop eating your plants. Unless you are attached to the cuties :)

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