Published 3:39 pm, Thursday, August 27, 2015
You don't notice hornworm caterpillars at first. Their smooth, pale green, skin with contrasting black and white markings camouflage it against the foliage of tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco, moonflowers, potato and other plants that it voraciously feeds upon to the point of defoliation. Once you do, though, you won't believe you could have missed it. They grow to a goliath 3 to 5 inches in length
The hornworm caterpillar's name derives from the scary looking but harmless signature horn that protrudes from its hind end. When disturbed or provoked, it rises up, sphinx-like, to appear as large and threatening as possible, and emits short clicking sounds as a warning.
Although hornworms may decimate some vegetables, they also transform into plump bodied, brown-gray "hawk" or "sphinx" moths, which are good for gardens. These nocturnal pollinators that take over for bees and butterflies at dusk, and are often mistaken for hummingbirds, as they similarly hover and fly from flower to flower seeking nectar. Garden soil tilled both at the beginning and end of each gardening season greatly reduces overwintering hornworm larvae populations. Companion planting with dill and marigolds also deters pests.