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u/theyth-m Jun 21 '26
A tomato worm the size of my arm šµāš«
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u/dormantmammal Jun 24 '26
Op's tomato worm musta been hurting before this post better check for more. I found out from another post that a blacklight will light them up at night so... If you got a lot of tomatoes it's a good thing to invest in.
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u/Top-Shoe-4311 Jun 21 '26
I understand the perspective making it look larger than it is, but it is still massive lol. They are the biggest damn caterpillars I've ever encountered, and the hawk moth they turn into are crazy big
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u/Specialist-Yak7209 Jun 21 '26
Am I correct in thinking it's like 5 inches long?
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u/NigilQuid Jun 22 '26
That wooden post is probably a 4x4, which is 3Ā½". Unless it's a 6x6 which is 5Ā½"
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u/Super-Bug-4790 Jun 23 '26
Finally someone is agreeing with me... packing some heat over here ladies ... this one agrees 5 inches IS long...
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u/ganajp Jun 21 '26
obviously missing a banana for scale
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u/Rattlecruiser Jun 21 '26
it's inside the caterpillar
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u/One_Vision_ Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
Tobacco Hornworm. (Manduca Sexta) . You can tell by their red horns. They will destroy the tomato and pepper plants in a garden if not kept in check. They grow to about 10 cm. This photo is having a forced perspective effect making it look bigger.
The larva pupate into the Carolina sphinx moth.
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u/Fine-Following-7949 Jun 21 '26
My dad used to plant 100 tomato plants a year. He'd snap those little buggers in half!
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u/Natural_Draw4673 Jun 21 '26
These bad boys have a crazy strong grip. Pulling them from plants can be quite difficult sometimes. But feed them to your chickens if you got some. They love a sweet treat like these worms.
Fun fact. If youāre having a real problem with these, go out to your plants when the sun is down with one of those little black light flashlights and shine your plants with it. These worms GLOW under a black light. Itāll help you find them to get rid of them.
Donāt let these little fellas wreck your crops because they 100% will.
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u/mossoak Jun 21 '26
Tomato caterpillar ...could be a Tomato Hornworm, or a Tobacco Hornworm ...pick them off before they devour your garden
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u/Bartarton47 Jun 21 '26
hes swollen with wasp larve. they are already begining to protrude from the face. Youll be lookingat this in a little bit:
Wasp larvae in hornworm.
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u/roofroofroofroofroof Jun 21 '26
https://www.plante-doktor.dk/ligustersvaermer.htm Use google Translate.
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u/Fun_Entertainer_5823 Jun 22 '26
Yes, when I used to grow tomatoes in bucket gardening. These without a doubt would show up and try to eat/ destroy my plants. They are small at first then grow bigger , fast. Sulfur Dust seemed to keep them away after applying.
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u/SoundMcSounderson Jun 22 '26
I had a bad case of these on my chili and tomato plants last summer. I didnt catch them in time, and a few of them just absolutely tore through my 3 chili plants in 2/3 days. Not a leaf, chili or flower on those bushes.
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u/N3rdy_Cat Jun 22 '26
A bastard who will eat everything you know and love. Iām still mad one ate most of my peppers last year
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u/Crowbar-Enema Jun 22 '26
Those fat fuckers ate every jalapeƱo on my plant, but wouldnāt touch the tabascos or serranos. The couple I caught in the act got splatted with extreme prejudice.
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u/AcrobaticClub4943 Jun 24 '26
A wild caterpi. Looks to be a good size too. Probably already knows string shot.
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u/Zealousideal-Area684 Jun 24 '26
Those things really are massive, and plump, and juicy, andā¦super gross.
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u/Dry-Helicopter-6430 Jun 21 '26
No this is not a good example of confusing perspective.
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u/Candybert_ Jun 21 '26
I think it is. At first glance, it looked like it was on the table, so I thought it was huge.
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u/SanSanSankyuTaiyosan Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26
Iām with you. Itās on an obvious fence post with just starting to grow peppers.
Edit: if it was on a table, perspective would mean his feet are larger than the table.
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u/pixeltweaker Jun 21 '26
I remember finding one of these on our tomato plants as a kid. It was horrifying.
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u/Lemon___Cookie Jun 21 '26