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Tomato Horn Worm


Tomato Horn Worm
Photo Information
Copyright: Ron Warner (tuslaw) Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 511 W: 20 N: 1392] (4861)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-07-30
Categories: Insects
Exposure: f/14.0, 1/25 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2009-08-02 20:32
Viewed: 1043
Points: 14
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
My daughter planted a small garden out behind the house this year, so I go out to check on it almost daily. Please don't tell her, but I occasionally swipe a tomato or two or maybe three, just to test them out. I don't want her to eat anything that isn't quite ripe enough, Ha,Ha.

This particular day I spotted what all gardeners hate to see, a big fat tomato worm munching on one of her vines. I quickly disposed of him, but not before taking his picture for TN.

Tomato Hornworms are the larva of a huge moth called five-spotted hawkmoth. Approximate size of the moth is around the size of a hummingbird so you can’t miss them. The hawkmoth is gray-brown with yellow spots on the sides of their body.

The hornworm caterpillars are pretty small at first and hard to see because of their pale green color, but they become huge - 3 1/2 to 4 inches (7-10cm) in 3-4 weeks. You can’t miss them then! They are green-brown colour with v-shaped markings on the body and unmistakable ‘horns’. Hornworm eggs are green and are laid on the underside of leaves.

Hornworm Lifecycle
The five-spotted hawkmoths lay their eggs as soon as they mate after hatching. They appear in late June to August. Full grown larva (3-4 weeks feeding) wander around the garden digging themselves in where they form a pupa (brown and about 3cm long) that overwinters and hatches in the spring

Info from: Cahri's Bugs Online
Gert-Paassen, sandpiper2, jaycee, Noisette, mporterf, eqshannon has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Hi Rob,

this are three times that we are neighbours.
abn very nice shot from this caterpillar.
Good sharp and pov.
The caterpillar are good camouflaged.

Fine green different colours.

Gert

Hi Ron

Tut tut, stealing tomatoes from your daughter, that is not good :)
Great shot of this big green caterpillar, great camouflage
Excellent composition, sharpness and DOF.

Chris

Hi Ron,

Excellent detail and color, you captured this big beast exactly as it appears in person. Nicely composed too. They're attractive, fascinating animals, too bad they like to eat tomato plants. I always feel bad about destroying them, but if you don't destroy them, you don't get any tomatoes.

I used to plant a few tomato plants for my dad every year (I can't eat them because I get hay fever in August and the tomatoes aggravate it beyond belief) but anyway, I always had to battle these big caterpillars every year, as they can really wreck a tomato plant in no time. One year, I pulled about 8 or 9 of them, big whopping ones, off of our 3 plants.

Thanks,
John

  • Great 
  • jaycee Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2493 W: 11 N: 6885] (21912)
  • [2009-08-03 16:44]

Hi Ron,

I have never seen a tomato worm before. He is so well camouflaged you had to be close to notice him. He may be destructive but he sure is good looking. Excellent colors and details of this fascinating insect. Mum is the word about you swiping tomatoes.

Jane

Hello Ron
this caterpillar is perhaps not good for the garden and tomaten plants but he is very photogenic with great camouflage colors
very sharp shot nicely composed with wonderful green color tones and very good lighting TFS
have a good night
Jacqueline

Ron,

Let's hope your daughter doesn't read up on your TN profile... but, better that you should benefit from her toil than the horn worm. I am glad that you shot him before disposing of him. There is some great detail captured here. Though both worm and plant are green, the juxtaposition in texture sets them clearly apart. Well done.

MP

Quite the eye for the patterns you have Ron. It makes for an eye catching image. If it were not for the markings, I would not have seen anything but flora....Good show!
A tip of my hat to ya!
Bob

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