Look what I found!

[m4rkz0r]

I've been having issues with caterpillars eating my cacti but I found this guy on my tomato plant. Its a tomato horn worm caterpillar and its the largest caterpillar I've ever seen; about the size of my middle finger. I read somewhere that when they become moths they pollinate night blooming cacti. Anyone else have any info on these guys?

[martenfisher]

They are solanum specific and the moth is not a cactus pollinator but will visit any flowers at night. The moth goes around lamps at night.

[tumamoc]

If this is the same as the sphinx moth, they do indeed pollinate Peniocereus greggii. I have also seen them night-visit Datura and Nicotiana. Here's a forum picture from a while back. Moth? No problem, but I don't think I'd welcome the caterpillar in my garden.

greggii moth.jpg (31.78 KiB) Viewed 1621 times

[daiv]

Here is one on my C. peruvianus when I was in CA:

[tumamoc]

Great shot, daiv! It's fun to sit in the dark (moonlight or low light) waiting for them to lumber through the area in search of nectar.

[gemhunter178]

I've never seen a moth like that in the wild yet, but I saw one when my pet (yes that same or similar caterpillar) changed into one. what's funny is how they like potato leaves more .

[m4rkz0r]

thanks for the input guys. I was hoping for some pictures of cacti and moths