Can anyone identify this thing I found while working in the garden this afternoon? It is huge, 5.5cm or 2.25in long,1.5cm or 1/2in wide. Keep or destroy? I assume this is a moth of some kind. does anyone have any ideas? ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden ) ( photo / image / picture from carolyn keiper's Garden )
Thanks Jerry, but I haven't seen Godzilla around here. So I'm thinking maybe not. By the way Everyone, sorry about the stained/dirty fingers, but I was working out in the dirt, unlike any of the many previous days and months.
That's a huge one,..looks like the Elephant Hawk Moth Pupae. The Moth. The Pupae. Though the colour is not the same.
I believe that most moth caterpillars will pupate underground so I would put it back in the ground and let nature take it's course.
It looks similar, but I can't see if there is a big proboscus on the hawk moth pupae. This was down in the ground, not on a tree or shrub. I couldn't find anything in my insect book that had a description that fit this pupae other than a general comment about SOME moths pupate in the ground. It is cool though.
Hi Toni, your comment came up after I clicked on my submit button, but that is my plan. I put it in a jar with some of the dirt from the same spot for today.
I believe that that pupae is of the Manduca quinquemaculata, or Tomato Horn Worm....some call it the "Five Spotted Hawk Moth"...it can fly like a hummingbird. I can't comment on keeping it or destroying it--that is your personal decision. If you have kids, they might enjoy seeing it emerge though.
Thanks Sjoerd, We have plenty of tomato horn worms here, so I can believe that is what it is, but I'll put it back out and let nature take its course.
