The easiest way to find well-camouflaged caterpillars is to first find their droppings.
Two tobacco hornworms fed on the same flowering tobacco plant (Nicotiana sylvestris) plant in my moon garden. The caterpillars can be a challenge to find, even after finding them the first time. I included this picture because it shows the pattern “veeing” down its back.
The small black spots along its side are the spiracles where they breath.
The “eye” is a fake eye on its prothoracic shield.
Two caterpillars were on this same plant. One was gone the next morning, and the other the next morning. I probably won’t see the sphinx moths after they emerge.
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Posted by centralohionature on August 24, 2014 at 6:29 am
They look rather large!
Posted by naturesnippets on August 24, 2014 at 6:35 am
They are … about 3 1/2 inches long.
Posted by New Hampshire Garden Solutions on August 24, 2014 at 5:29 pm
I saw something similar last year, I was surprised by how big it was-about as big as a finger.
Posted by naturesnippets on August 24, 2014 at 5:31 pm
They sure are impressive. I can’t believe how hard it can be to see them on the plant.