What are all those white things on the bottom worm? Aphids? And I wonder if the top worm is just a younger version of the bottom worm? They feasted on my tomato leaves. Not sure if they go for the fruit too but I picked some pretty gnarly looking tomatoes today. Someone, other than the groundhogs and rabbits, has been enjoying my crop.
4 comments:
the top pic is of a swallowtail butterfly caterpillar. it would prefer to eat carrot tops, fennel and parsley- but not usually enough to be a nuisance, the bottom one is definitely a hornworm with parasitic larvae cocoons on it. If you leave that one be, the larvae will hatch, destroy the hornworm and reproduce and attack more hornworms. I have a swallowtail larvae in a jar in the house that has just pupated. I enjoy keeping butterflies and my kids enjoy it too.
Thanks icebear. I'm very excited that you found my blog (or did I find yours?). Now I have someone to answer all my insect questions. And I love that you're a meatetarian. I've been described as a bit contrary at times (a polite way of saying I'm ornery) so I appreciate meatetarianism for its un-PC-ness.
Ewwwww, paracitized hornworms give me the heebie jeebies. But they're a good sign of nature taking care of its own.
Lucky duck, I want a swallowtail caterpillar!
You're ornery? :D Then I'm in good company! Man, I'e been so cranky lately!
We raise Monarch butterflies and have released 7 so far this year with 6 more caterpillars feeding. We have not found swollowtails.
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