Is this a moth to worry about?

Riceloft · July 3, 2015

At first I thought it was the hornworm moth, but it doesn't look quite right. I killed it just in case though. Should I hunt for more and kill on sight?

ContainerTed · July 3, 2015

I think it's the moth that everyone is reporting seeing just before Bigfoot shows up. If it has a "skunk-like" odor to it, then keep your eyes peeled for the big guy.

I have no idea. Just saw an opportunity to do a little kidding.

digsdirt · July 3, 2015

Looks like a Sphinx moth to me. it is no threat to your garden and there is no need to kill it. Its larvae are yellow and feed on tree bark. For future reference it looks nothing like a hornworm moth which is brown, patterened, and has bifurcated wings that do not fold back over the thorax. When in doubt, give the moth the benefit of the doubt too.

Dave

Worth1 · July 3, 2015

Shoot first and ask questions later.

Poor moth.

Worth

digsdirt · July 4, 2015

Quote:

Shoot first and ask questions later.

Yeah, unfortunately too many gardeners take that approach. Like the only bug in a garden should be a dead bug. In fact 90% of them are beneficials or, at worst, garden neutrals.

Dave

JRinPA · July 7, 2015

This is a sphinx moth / tomato hornworm I found last year. It is spot on for pg84 of my golden guide. Glad I found it in time - notice the eggs in second pic.

July 3, 2015	#2
ContainerTed Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: 6a - NE Tennessee Posts: 4,538	I think it's the moth that everyone is reporting seeing just before Bigfoot shows up. If it has a "skunk-like" odor to it, then keep your eyes peeled for the big guy. I have no idea. Just saw an opportunity to do a little kidding. __________________ Ted ________________________ Owner & Sole Operator Of The Muddy Bucket Farm and Tomato Ranch

July 3, 2015	#3
digsdirt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: No.Central Arkansas - 6b/7a Posts: 179	Looks like a Sphinx moth to me. it is no threat to your garden and there is no need to kill it. Its larvae are yellow and feed on tree bark. For future reference it looks nothing like a hornworm moth which is brown, patterened, and has bifurcated wings that do not fold back over the thorax. When in doubt, give the moth the benefit of the doubt too. Dave __________________ Dave

July 3, 2015	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	Shoot first and ask questions later. Poor moth. Worth

July 7, 2015	#6
JRinPA Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: SE PA Posts: 972	This is a sphinx moth / tomato hornworm I found last year. It is spot on for pg84 of my golden guide. Glad I found it in time - notice the eggs in second pic.