caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

[salty87]

we planted a veggie garden this year for the first time. raised bed, central tx. things are doing real good so far with the exception of the spinach getting eaten...before we can get to it...

spotted this fat'n happy looking sucker a few feet down on a tomato plant...

anyone know what it is? what it will turn in to?
is it eating the spinach?

thanks

 

[salty87]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

no gardeners here?...bump...

 

[joed]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

I found some caterpillar identification sites but could not find that one.
http://pick4.pick.uga.edu/mp/20q?guide=Caterpillars
http://www.ent.orst.edu/lepphoto/thumb.html
http://www.texasento.net/rearing.htm

 

[salty87]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

thanks, joed. i've found some green little buggers too.

i'm not squeamish about bugs but caterpillars are nasty bastards. fuzzy, soft AND spikey, weird colors. reminds growing up in louisiana...the stinging caterpillars are all sorts of colors on the inside. was fun as a kid to ride bikes over them and see what squirted out...they've come back for me. lol

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

Place a bird feeder about seven feet above the ground in the middle of your garden, that will take care of your caterpillars. Tomatoes and peppers would not be safe from the birds, but your spinach and other leafy garden varieties will be fine.

 

[salty87]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

i may just let them have the spinach...i'm not giving up any tomatoes or peppers!

 

[joed]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

Put it in a jar. Keep feeding it. Wait for it to make cocoon. Wait for cocoon to hatch and see what comes out. Probably a big moth.

 

[Adjuster]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

Caterpillars, spinach, sesame seeds, olive oil in frying pan. Lightly stir fry until the spinach is wilted. Sprinkle with crumbled Feta cheese. Uhmm Uhmm good.

 

[kamby]

Re: caterpillar id help...bug not tractor

Kinda looks like a variant of the tomato horn worm. (green catiplillar) it is kinda ugly tho. On the tomotaoes we take and cut up toilete paper tubes and put them around the base of the plant about an inch or so down, when the tomatoes are youngins it prevents them from getting attacked by the underground critters. Also make sure with tomatoes dont handle them wet, they are very suspectible to the tobacco mosaic virus, so if u smoke dont smoke by them, dont let the leafs touch the ground and when u get tomatoes keep them off the ground. You may want to contact your local garden extension office and see if they can id the catapillar. All in all i say smush it.

Tomatoes also liked to be waterd down below the leaf line on the bottom they dont like there leafs to get wet, although they do just dont touch when wet diease can spread real quick amongst plants. Same kinda deal goes with pepper plants.