CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142 
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 5, 2024 15:40:33 GMT -5
My tomato plants from the Spring were constantly under attack by tobacco hornworms. I would pick a couple off per day. I've used Spinosad and BT with moderate success. On my first fall tomato crop I started early with spraying both of those, but I still find caterpillars daily. Today, when picking off baby caterpillars, I found this thing that I initially thought was a leaf.... until it moved....  Does anyone know what it is? Do I leave it alone, is it beneficial or is it like the hawk moth and out to destroy my tomato plants (I currently have three). They just started producing small green fruits this past week. An aside, it has been HOT this fall. We've broken several heat records for October. The next three days will be 95+ with 100 heat index. I was dumb and took down my shade cloth too early.  Luckily, I planted heat tolerant determinate tomatoes this time: Phoenix, Florida 91 and Heatmaster. |
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CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 5, 2024 15:46:46 GMT -5
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 5, 2024 15:51:33 GMT -5
Get yourself a copy of the two apps: Picture This and Picture Insect. They are great AI identification apps for plants and insects.
I pointed it at the picture in your post and it says:
Tersa sphinx a species of Hawk moth.
Looks like it's getting ready to deposit a clump of eggs onto your lovely plants!
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 5, 2024 15:53:43 GMT -5
says, Adults feed on nectar but larvae eat plant leaves. I'd kill it.
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CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 5, 2024 15:56:13 GMT -5
Get yourself a copy of the two apps: Picture This and Picture Insect. They are great AI identification apps for plants and insects.
I pointed it at the picture in your post and it says:
Tersa sphinx a species of Hawk moth.
Looks like it's getting ready to deposit a clump of eggs onto your lovely plants!
Thanks! Ok, so make it go bye-bye then. I had forgotten about Google Image search. Duh. I found lots of info including a very disturbing video of their caterpillars... I'm not squeamish, at all really, but this, I, uh, just EWWWW. If you want an EWWWWWWWWWWWWWW moment: |
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CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 5, 2024 15:59:13 GMT -5
says, Adults feed on nectar but larvae eat plant leaves. I'd kill it.
I sprayed it. It flew off.  |
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 791
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Oct 6, 2024 0:08:46 GMT -5
Get yourself a copy of the two apps: Picture This and Picture Insect. They are great AI identification apps for plants and insects.
I pointed it at the picture in your post and it says:
Tersa sphinx a species of Hawk moth.
Looks like it's getting ready to deposit a clump of eggs onto your lovely plants!
Wow, I'd never heard of these apps, but both sound like must haves! Off to download to my phone, so thanks! |
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CatHerder
AGA Sprout
"If man could be crossed with the cat it would improve man, but it would deteriorate the cat".
Posts: 142
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Post by CatHerder on Oct 6, 2024 16:04:46 GMT -5
Get yourself a copy of the two apps: Picture This and Picture Insect. They are great AI identification apps for plants and insects.
I pointed it at the picture in your post and it says:
Tersa sphinx a species of Hawk moth.
Looks like it's getting ready to deposit a clump of eggs onto your lovely plants!
I tried to install one but my phone said "Nope." My phone is soooooo old (2017) I have no available space for any more apps. Who knew?! |
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 791
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Oct 7, 2024 16:41:51 GMT -5
Get yourself a copy of the two apps: Picture This and Picture Insect. They are great AI identification apps for plants and insects.
I pointed it at the picture in your post and it says:
Tersa sphinx a species of Hawk moth.
Looks like it's getting ready to deposit a clump of eggs onto your lovely plants!
I tried to install one but my phone said "Nope." My phone is soooooo old (2017) I have no available space for any more apps. Who knew?!  I was able to install, no issue, but turns out they are subscription based. Which is not for me. Though I might do it temporarily if I was badly in need, so I'm glad to know about them. |
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Post by scarfguy on Oct 7, 2024 17:46:29 GMT -5
I tried to install one but my phone said "Nope." My phone is soooooo old (2017) I have no available space for any more apps. Who knew?! I was able to install, no issue, but turns out they are subscription based. Which is not for me. Though I might do it temporarily if I was badly in need, so I'm glad to know about them.
Yea, I forgot to mention that. I bit the bullet and bought both of them. The number of times I say, "what is that bug?" makes it worthwhile.
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pfunnyjoy
AGA Bounty
Made more grow room in my office!
Posts: 791
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Post by pfunnyjoy on Oct 8, 2024 16:42:53 GMT -5
I could see it more easily if I were outdoor gardening. So it's possible that I'd still use one of these apps at some point, but maybe not year round. I never got to any outdoor gardening this year, other than a huge pile of overgrown volunteer cherry tomatoes, which I really, really, really need to cut back! Preferably before we have a freeze warning.
Getting lots of nice cherry tomatoes though!
If the tomato plants have bugs, I'm ignoring them. It's a freaking jungle, I can barely find the tomatoes!
My Aerogardens generally haven't suffered from bugs, though it's always a possibility.
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Luckily, I planted heat tolerant determinate tomatoes this time: Phoenix, Florida 91 and Heatmaster.
