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Q: We’ve had this guy around for the last few days. What is he? A luna moth perhaps? What should we look for in coming days? A: It’s a hornworm, Manduca rustica (aka rustic sphinx moth), to be precise ...

Last summer I found three tomato hornworms feeding on my tomato vines. I was impressed with their bright colors and 4-inch length and wondered just what kind of a moth these turn into when they ...

While squirrels, deer and woodchucks are generally the most destructive consumers of garden tomatoes on Staten Island nowadays, the caterpillars known as hornworms pose a more subtle threat. The ...

Q: I saw lots of these bugs at the community garden this morning. They are massed on the open pods of a vine-like plant that has grown up the chain-link fence. The pods are about 3 inches long, ...

Tomato hornworms, Manduca quinquemaculata, are large green caterpillars that devour tomato plants along with other nightshades including peppers, potatoes, and eggplant. They can also be a little ...

Q:LAST summer, a tomato caterpillar attacked the leaves and fruits of my tomato plants. I’d like to prevent this from happening again. How do they evolve? Also, do they turn into butterflies? A: The ...

My hopes for a new addition to the family have been officially shattered. However, I have gained a new friend with no strings attached. Last Sunday I had a great time with the neighborhood tabby. We ...

The hornworm is a common name for a sphinx moth’s caterpillar (larvae). One species of hornworm is called the “tomato hornworm” because it loves to munch on the leaves of tomato plants. Another ...

Russell McLendon is a science writer with expertise in the natural environment, humans, and wildlife. He holds degrees in journalism and environmental anthropology. Vegetable gardening is not for the ...