The name horn is applied to Green Caterpillar with Horn because of the tail which looks like horn and a bit curled which in future replaced by eyespot marking. Green caterpillar identification can be done if you noticed their heads. They are the Large green caterpillar. The head is comparatively larger than the body. V-shaped marks are present on their body while some has white spikes.
Horns are not stingers but they are the one that damage the most at larval stage they are mainly know as tomato hornworms and tobacco hornworms. You can get rid from plants manually as they are harmless and are at immature stage. But to the plant they can defoliate or chew the greeneries. When they feed on vegetation they left footmarks as droppings that are black to dark green in color.
Pupal Stage
The pupal stage of Green Caterpillar with Horn is brown reddish in color, with a loop at the end. Pupae mostly found in soil substrate. Their eggs are round in shape. Beginnings are found as green in color. The larval stage appears as pale yellow pigment with white and black markings. The first instar is yellow to white in color while other are eight in number which turn to V- shaped marks. They poop on upper parts of the leaves. They are 3-4 inch longer and weigh up to 10-12gms. Their livelihood depends on the environment if it is warm or not. Within 7-14 weeks they modify themselves into moth (if temp is between 20-30 o C). Mostly they live for 2-3 weeks.
Thy are mostly found in southern Canada and Northern states of unites states of America. They can be a good food source for your pets. As they are nutritious for them. They are very ingenious as they can hide under the leaves and stems in day. It munch during their favorable conditions. They can be detected. When they are gently shaken they may create a clicking sound which can aid you to detect the trespassers. Unfortunately, If the plant is beyond seedling stage the damage is irreplaceable.
Read my other article on monarch butterfly.
Who is the Masculine or who is the feminine horn?
Green horned caterpillar can be distinguished by observing the abdomen or segments underlying. As you examine the ventral side male exhibit 2 small bumps on segment 9 however in females it is smooth.
Multiple names for this horn king:
- Tomato hornworm
- Tobacco hornworm (Manduca sexta)
- Sphinx moth
- Fivespotted hawk moth
- Carolina sphinx
Is there any difference between tomato horn worm or tobacco horn worm?
- Tomato horn worms has v – shaped body while tobacco horn worms have parallel white stripes.
- The tomato horn worms do not have any stripes around the spots while tobacco horn worms have black color dark lining around the spots.
- Tomato hornworms have a black head horn while tobacco hornworms have a red head horn.
How to identify the damage?
Finding these horns can be annoying but despite of a fright it is better to prepare yourself to get rid from them. Each moth can lay up to 2000 eggs. On a single visit they may deposit one to five eggs on plant, mostly in night. The defoliate is larger with larger holes present on. If Stripes are present on your fruits, then it is hornworm as they open wound son fruits may open the homeland for other pathogens too. but be cautious as it may be due to the sunscald which might triggers due to less foliage.
Tip: they can defoliate completely overnight so have deep patrol on your crop.
Hands-on measures:
- Handpicking is good tactic for control if you have stamina and time.
- Soapy water can help to detects the green caterpillar horn. When we spray soapy water on plants they waggle and tremble which makes them prone to be visible. In this situation they are easily removed from plants and can be tinkle.
- They can also be used as a source of food for your chickens, birds or other pets .so you cannot smash them simply you can have benefit from them on other produce as they are rich in calcium and other nutrients. They don’t have exoskeletons which make them easy to digest.
- You can also apply thuricide to control hornworms. The finest way to prepare it is to mix the powdered or liquid form with water and spray to catch the hornworm timely before the damage occurs.
- It has natural enemies too like wasps (a common predator for hornworms) and greenlace wigs are the one that can prey on green caterpillar horn.
- As a proactive measure basil, dills and mariglod can be planted nearby so that green caterpillars with horn don’t attract your crop.
- You can also do rototilling so that the pupae may destroy before the time. As in this stage they from pupae chambers in soil.
- By the end insecticides can be used as a remedy. One of the organic insecticide known as baciilus thuringenesis can be used as it acts as a stomach poison for caterpillars or larval insects. Synthetic or biological whatever the type of insecticide applies it is batter to follow the precautions and guideline for its safety for humans
Conclusion
As a proactive measure Look up for daily inspection of your crop specially on tips to locate Green horned caterpillar timely. if you find any chewed leaves be alert. It is deep patrol job as they can camouflage themselves with plants.
They feed on leaves they are not interest to attack fruits or other shoots part. It stay throughout the winters or fall in soil in favorable condition they came out of pupae chambers. They might look as fierce pests. Some says destroy them but you can feed them to grow for your other sources food. Storing them is not so difficult. Keep horns in their cup as they will continue to grow.
It is better to put a folded paper towel in the container to provide them space for maintaining pupae chambers. If you find white eggs laid on the back of green caterpillar horn worm, then do understand the fact that these eggs are of wasps as caterpillars are roomed by wasps.
Tip: if Green Caterpillar with Horn on tail has white spikes on it is better to let them die on their own.
If you are interested in a worm farm read here.
