This Tomato or Tobacco Hornworm Caterpillar is doomed. The wasps will hatch out of the cocoons and search for another Hornworm host to attack and lay their eggs in. The circle of life goes on. The caterpillar would have gone on to become a Sphinx Moth. (click on images to enlarge)
You can run AND you can hide!
These are certainly quick little guys as well as destructive. Just when the tomato ripening has slowed and thoughts are on having some fried green tomatoes..... they seem to read your mind and move right in with stink bug reinforcements!
These Sphinx Moth caterpillars are voracious eating machines! In lieu of insecticides why not pick them off and give your child an opportunity to witness their transformation into moths? They can be housed in a large jar and as long as they are supplied with plenty of tomato leaves will grow quite rapidly. An easy way to keep them clean..... have two jars and move them to the clean one with fresh leaves each new day. A nice science project! (click on images to supersize)
(don't forget to click on images to enlarge!) I have been observing this beautiful spider for weeks now while picking tomatoes from my garden. Aside from the obvious fact that it has grown quite large, I have noticed that its web building abilities have certainly improved... practice makes perfect ;0)
In reality, I do know this spider is not residing amongst my tomato plants with the express intention of "doing me a favor...."
